Auditors said the majority of homeless people enrolled in the $3.7 billion Reaching Home Program failed to enter long-term, stable housing, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .Reaching Home is a Canadian government-funded, community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing municipalities with funding to address their local needs. .Of the 13,057 homeless people who received federal aid in 2020, auditors said 5,323 remained housed or successfully exited the program after one year. .“The program has not yet collected data on this indicator for the 2021 fiscal year,” said Employment and Social Development Canada auditors in a report. .“Documents do not provide evidence to indicate whether monitoring the housing situation for 12 months post intervention is a sufficient period to assess whether individuals or families experiencing homelessness can be considered to be more stably housed or having exited homelessness.”.No reason was given for so many homeless people failing. Housing Advocate Marie-Josee Houle said in a separate report occupants of tent cities often suffered from substance abuse and mental health issues. .“What they want is a place, a home, without curfew and without a schedule which they find in the encampment,” said Houle. .“For them, the encampment allows them to develop a sense of belonging.”.Audit figures on the high failure rate of Reaching Home tenants were based on 12-month follow-ups. .Canadian government agencies have no detailed estimate of homelessness in Canada. .Statistics Canada said in June the homeless population in Canada is smaller than estimated. .READ MORE: Census finds homelessness decreasing in Canada.The census count of people residing in shelters showed the number is now less than half of what it was in 2016..“The Census is not an adequate tool to frequently enumerate the homeless population,” said Statistics Canada. .Former housing minister Ahmed Hussen told reporters in 2022 he increased funding for Reaching Home because every Canadian “deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.”.“Under Reaching Home, the government is investing in the well-being of Canadians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” said Hussen.
