Homeless veterans in Toronto are getting help from nearly $400,000 in federal funding over the next three years.

Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Lawrence MacAulay, accompanied by Spadina-Fort York MP Adam Vaughan, announced the money will go to the Good Shepherd Ministries’ Veterans Housing Navigation Team in downtown Toronto.

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“This project will not only help veterans find housing but also work with them to enhance their skills and manage health goals,” said MacAulay inside Good Shepherd on Monday morning.

“Veterans (are) a very valuable and important part of society needed in so many sectors of our society, well-trained to take on many opportunities.”

Added Vaughan: “Veterans to me are one of the most important work forces.”

Brother David Lynch, the executive director of Good Shepherd Ministries, said the issues facing homeless veterans are varied including PTSD, addiction to alcohol and recreational drugs, and relationships breaking down.

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“And it’s a downward spiral,” said Lynch.

Lynch said “veterans are resistant to go to Veteran Affairs for whatever reason,” so the Good Shepherd serves as an important go-between.

“To date, we have helped over 250 veterans (since the Leave the Street Behind Program was started) in 2010 (with Veteran Affairs and the Canadian Legion),” said Lynch.

“The aim (with the new $400,000) is to house 70 veterans over the next three years.”

Vaughan said it’s estimated veterans make up between five to eight per cent of Toronto’s total homeless population, itself estimated to range between 7,500 to 8,500 people.

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“Homelessness in the city of Toronto is a major problem,” said Lynch.

“It’s a major problem in the developed world. It’s a very sad issue that I’ve been working with now for 40 years. It’s even more sad when you’re helping someone who has served his country.”

Vaughan said veterans have a great sense of pride and because they are trained to be self-sufficient are often reluctant to self-identify as homeless and can only relate on a veteran-to-veteran basis like through Good Shepherd’s peer support worker Kuinton Elliott.

Elliott, 28, himself was homeless for two years after serving in the military between the ages of 16-24 and both of his parents have PTSD.

“(Veterans) would see me as if we were still in uniform, which is just as a brother to them which goes a long way,” said Elliott.

MacAulay added, “when you’re used to serving rather than being served, it’s not easy.”

The nearly $400,000 comes from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, approved in the 2017 federal budget.

“In its first two years, the fund has already approved more $3 million to support ten projects dedicated to helping veterans who are homeless,” said MacAulay.

“I think we all agree, as Canadians, they deserve a good and decent place to live.”