MONTREAL, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ - Far too many people across Canada are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing a safe place to live. Addressing homelessness requires immediate action to expand supportive and deeply affordable housing, reduce barriers, and deliver solutions faster for those who need them most.

Today, the federal government is taking action to help communities respond to the urgent challenge of unsheltered homelessness and encampments by investing $125 million to extend the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI).

The Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative supports more stable housing, enables outreach staff to connect people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with services they need, and helps fund the creation or expansion of transitional or supportive housing and shelter spaces.

With the launch of Build Canada Homes, which has committed to more than 10,000 homes to date, the Government of Canada is investing $1 billion to create more supportive and transitional housing, across Canada. This initiative represents a collaborative effort by all levels of government to support homeless individuals to move towards more stable housing.

Building on these efforts, the Government of Canada is also engaging partners and stakeholders to understand how we can work together to address issues related to housing and homelessness. This kind of collaboration provides an example of the concerted effort required to address homelessness, on which we hope to build.

UHEI complements broader federal efforts to address homelessness and increase housing stability, including investments through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy and Canada's Housing Plan, which aim to build more homes, improve affordability, and support Canadians facing the greatest housing need.

Quotes

"Far too many people in Canada are living without a safe and stable place to call home. With this funding, we are ensuring communities can continue to access the resources they need to expand housing options and help people move into safer, more stable housing."

— The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

"I commend the federal government's collaboration and these investments, which will help support the vital work done by community organizations and maintain essential services for the most vulnerable people.  

In Montreal, we will continue to work hand in hand with the various levels of government and the community sector to provide dignified, sustainable solutions that meet people's needs and help them get off the streets."

 — Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal  

Quick facts

• To support the additional funding for the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Initiative, funds have been identified internally through savings in HICC legacy infrastructure programs.
• UHEI supports projects that address unsheltered homelessness and encampments, taking a human-centered and housing first approach, including:
  • transitional and supportive housing
  • shelter transformation
  • case management and support services
• UHEI was introduced in response to the rise in unsheltered homelessness and encampments across Canada. Through the initiative, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) has entered into agreements with provincial, territorial, and municipal partners to support projects identified through Community Encampment Response Plans.
• Launched on September 14, 2025, Build Canada Homes is Canada's new federal agency dedicated to building and financing affordable housing at scale.

Associated links

Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy
Build Canada Homes
Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative
National Housing Strategy

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SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities