Human Resources Committee on June 18th, 2026

[Krystyna Lloyd]

Yes, absolutely. This is why so many peers within the sector are so focused on...I use the words “breadth over depth”, because in order to secure funding from both government and non-government sources, the focus is on volume, the number of beds and turnover. The Safe Haven Foundation, for example, will try to adapt to that language. We talk about the way that our program—which supports youth through, on average, a two- to four-year stay—translates to bed nights.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Aitchison.

Mr. Joseph, we now go to you for six minutes.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Respectfully, Mr. Chair, I'd like to start with a few comments. First, I want to thank you for your leadership and nonpartisanship throughout the study.

I want to be clear this morning. I am disappointed. Instead of continuing to work across party lines to address the issue of homelessness, the Bloc Québécois has gone back to its partisan ways. That is very dangerous.

Do I need to remind the Bloc Québécois that it voted against the 2025 budget, against the plan to build a billion dollars in transitional housing?

The Bloc Québécois seems to be suggesting that it's going to vote in favour of increased funding for the Reaching Home program. The truth, however, is that the Bloc Québécois takes community groups for granted, just as it takes Quebeckers for granted. It doesn't like the feeling that those on the ground are more aligned with the government's approach.

The Bloc Québécois was highly partisan in the House, accusing the government of not doing anything to fight homelessness. What, then, have we been doing here during these meetings?

Do I need to remind the Bloc Québécois who suggested the study?

I'm disappointed because the Bloc Québécois is well aware that we have been working proactively on the issue of homelessness.

I'm disappointed because the Bloc Québécois is insinuating that we are doing nothing in Quebec, with July 1 around the corner, even though it knows full well that the province oversees the housing authorities that provide assistance to those looking for housing.

I want to take this opportunity to ask the Bloc Québécois to stop infringing on Quebec's jurisdiction. The Bloc Québécois member is after all a federal member of Parliament.

I'm disappointed because some of the things that have been recommended during this study could help Mr. Villeneuve's riding and even Ms. Larouche's.

I'm disappointed because the Bloc Québécois cited statistics to show that homelessness had gone up in both Mr. Lemire's and Ms. Larouche's ridings. The fact is that the rise in homelessness happened under their watch. The Bloc Québécois is just spewing nonsense. Those members have been in Parliament for more than five years, and they've done nothing about homelessness.

A former Bloc Québécois member went all over Quebec on the taxpayer's dime, under the pretense of wanting to end homelessness. That is nonsense. We mustn't accept that here.

I have a question for Ms. Savage.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

It was time.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Chair, can I have the floor, please? I don't want to be interrupted.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Yes.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Savage, are you aware that the current government has invested $1 billion in transitional housing?

What will that money do for your organization?

[Annie Savage]

Do you know I came here from Montreal to speak with the committee, and you just wasted time we could have used to provide information and tell you more about the needs in our communities?

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I'm going to stop you there, madam. We are talking about homelessness, madam—

[Annie Savage]

I don't want to answer the member's questions. I apologize, but you can give the floor to the other witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Order, please.

I would remind all members that witnesses are here to respond to questions about the study. It's members' time. As long as you're using your time for the subject of homelessness, that is your time.

Go ahead, Mr. Joseph.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to continue with Ms. Savage.

I would ask Ms. Savage to answer in good faith.

Is she aware that the federal government has invested $1 billion in transitional housing?

[Annie Savage]

I'm not going to answer the question. It's a partisan question. I am here on behalf of a community organization. That's not what I want to discuss. Nor do I want to be used to serve a party's political interests.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Ms. Savage, we are here to talk about people in vulnerable situations. You are here to talk about the people you advocate for. You agree, don't you?

Are you aware that the federal government is investing $1 billion in transitional housing all over Canada, especially in Quebec?

[Annie Savage]

I'm not going to answer the question, which I consider to be partisan. That's not what I'm here for.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Are you aware or not? It has nothing to do with being partisan, Ms. Savage.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Please ask another question.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

It's clear that the witness isn't acting in good faith.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You have a minute left.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I'm going to ask Ms. Savage the same question.

Are there early indicators or warnings that would help the government provide support to those at risk sooner?

Do you have any recommendations for the Reaching Home program?

[Annie Savage]

Absolutely.

We have a lot of recommendations. We have some indicators. The counts being carried out throughout Canada and Quebec show an aggressive rise in homelessness in recent years.

We also have evidence on the causes of homelessness. We know that housing loss is one of the leading causes, and one of the reasons people lose their homes is that they aren't able—

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Savage.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you very much.

We now go to Ms. Larouche for six minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you to the witnesses for being with us today.

I may come back to you, Mr. Gladstone, but I really want to thank you for raising the issue of unhoused people with special needs. They too need supports to help them get off the street.

Ms. Lloyd, your story is inspiring. Your model of providing youth with a place to stay, supports, and an alternative to life on the street is wonderful. I hope I'll have time to ask you questions.

I'm going to start with you, Ms. Savage.

We can't wave a magic wand to solve the homelessness crisis. That is what I've taken away from everything the witnesses have told us since our study began.

It's a good thing that the government is working to address social, community and affordable housing through Build Canada Homes. However, July 1 is two weeks away. The City of Montreal tripled its homelessness budget, and just this morning, Quebec announced that it was putting an additional $12.5 million towards the problem.

The encampments program was simply extended for two years.

With July 1 approaching, do you think more money should have gone to the program given the growing demand?

[Annie Savage]

It's true that all three levels of government have made significant investments. Beyond investment, though, what's missing is real coordination and the ability to plan for the long term.

I'll give you an example. The funding agreements under the Reaching Home program usually cover two years. That makes it impossible for organizations to do any long-term planning and really work on things that need to be worked on.

We have agencies that got funding to build a shelter space for people, but when the agencies applied for funding to cover the services and supports those clients would need, their application was denied. It's not that it wasn't a high-priority project. It's that there wasn't enough money. That shows you the inconsistency in the investments.

We need a comprehensive vision. With five-year agreements, we could develop supports, build infrastructure, cover intervention services and form partnerships with organizations that can provide community-based health care like Doctors Without Borders. That's one of the things we could do with support for a broader approach and longer-term vision.