Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for being here today.
Everyone knows there is a clear link between mental health and homelessness. That is obvious. The HPS, or the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, is the federal program aimed at combatting homelessness. In its last budget, the federal government made an excellent decision and renewed the program, but it adopted a new approach, known as Housing First. There is no doubt as to the importance of housing for those who are homeless.
What worries me a bit, however, is the fact that nowhere does the budget indicate whether the funding will be strictly limited to housing projects. There is no indication whether currently funded projects that are tied to housing but to other areas as well, such as mental health, will continue to receive support. I would like you to speak to the importance of continued HPS funding for projects that address housing and homelessness in addition to helping those who suffer from mental illnesses.