Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
Members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to appear before you today. My name is Mitch Freeman. I'm the assistant deputy minister of commemoration and public affairs and strategic policy and planning at Veterans Affairs Canada. I'm pleased to be here today with my colleague Nathalie Pham as part of your study of motion M-16. The study provides the occasion to explore the opportunities, challenges and best practices associated with providing services, supports and resources for veterans. It is also an opportunity to identify successful models and consider, alongside other federal departments, how assets might better serve veterans and the communities in which they live.
Veterans Affairs Canada's mandate is to support the well-being of veterans and their families and promote recognition and remembrance of the achievements and sacrifices of those who have served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace. Our mission is to provide exemplary client-centred services and benefits that respond to the needs of veterans and their families while ensuring that the memory of their service and sacrifice remains alive.
Today, Veterans Affairs Canada administers a broad range of benefits, programs and services designed to support veterans throughout the postservice life. These include disability benefits, rehabilitation services, income supports, health care benefits, transition supports, case management, and education and training benefits, among others. We provide those services through an extensive national network. Currently, veterans can access support through 38 Veterans Affairs Canada locations across the country, Service Canada locations, 28 transition centres located on or near Canadian Forces bases, operational stress injury clinics, our national contact centre and our secure online platform, My VAC Account. Combined, these service channels form more than 700 points of service available to veterans and their families from coast to coast to coast.
Each year, approximately 7,800 members of the Canadian Armed Forces transition out of military service, including roughly 2,000 medical releases. While most veterans transition successfully, we know that some experience challenges adjusting to civilian life. Research indicates that nearly one in five veterans reports experiencing difficulties during that transition. Therefore, supporting a successful transition is a critical aspect of the department's work and requires collaboration among federal departments, provinces and territories, municipalities, employers, health care providers, community organizations and, of course, the veteran's family.
It is within this broader context that Veterans Affairs Canada welcomes the committee's study of motion M-16. However, we know the transition extends beyond access to programs and benefits alone. Veterans often tell us that access to housing, meaningful employment, social connection, health services and peer support are all important determinants of well-being. These are often areas in which municipalities, communities and organizations, provincial and territorial governments, and local service providers play an essential role.
Housing is a particularly important consideration, and this is why we have collaborated with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to support the veteran homelessness program to ensure eligible veterans receive the supports they need. We support organizations that identify and assist veterans who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness, helping them access housing, income supports, health and mental health services, and other benefits for which they may be eligible. The department also provides emergency assistance services directly to vulnerable veterans to address their immediate financial challenges.
Experience has shown that homelessness is rarely solely a housing issue, though. Long-term success often depends on access to integrated supports that address health, wellness, employment, financial security, social connection and community belonging. These are areas in which community organizations, municipalities, provinces and territories, and other partners frequently play an essential role.
From our perspective, one of the strengths of this study is, in fact, the focus on evidence and collaboration. For that reason, hearing directly from veterans, veteran-serving organizations, municipal leaders, property experts and federal partners will be critical to understanding both the opportunities and the practical considerations associated with repurposing federal assets. As the committee undertakes this work, it will be important to consider factors such as long-term stability, accessibility, operating costs, local demand, governance arrangements and partnerships. Although Public Services and Procurement Canada is the department responsible for federal real property, Veterans Affairs Canada has extensive experience working with veterans, their families and organizations that support them, and we are committed to contributing expertise to the committee's study.
Further, this study comes at an important time. The government is making significant investments in the Canadian Armed Forces. Motion M-16 recognizes that an increase in military personnel today will ultimately result in a growing population of veterans in the years and decades ahead. The motion, therefore, invites us to think proactively about how we can continue to support those who have served Canada.
Canadians who serve in uniform—
