Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses. I would like to say to those of you who are reappearing before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities that your suggestions and insights are very helpful to us.
Mr. Richter, thank you for coming back.
I know that the issue of homelessness is a priority for you and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. This is a matter of great concern, because while homelessness has always existed, it has exploded in many parts of Canada. In Quebec, more than 10,000 people are homeless. That is a considerable number.
In the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report of May 2024, as well as in the national housing strategy, which was mentioned earlier, the initial goal was to halve the number of homeless people in the country by 2027‑28. However, the government extended the deadline to 2030. In any case, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that, to reduce chronic homelessness by 50% by 2030, the government would need to invest $3.5 billion a year. That is seven times more than what is currently provided for under the national housing strategy.
Do you have any comments on that finding?