Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to all of our witnesses.
I'm not sure whether you are aware, but there was a federal budget handed down yesterday that included some substantial new investments that should benefit veterans and their families. I'm going to ask some specific questions in connection with those investments to get your reaction and perhaps your advice on them.
To recap—this comes to a point that was discussed by our panel today—there's $140 million dedicated to cover mental health treatment costs for veterans with PTSD, depression and anxiety while they sit in the backlog. While they're waiting for their claims to be approved, there's a $140-million envelope to treat them.
There was an additional $15-million injection into the the veteran well-being fund to support the veterans through COVID-19 recovery, including homelessness, employment retraining and health challenges. There was $236 million dedicated, between Veterans Affairs and Department of National Defence, to expanding work to eliminate gender-based violence and sexual violence.
I'd first like to bring our female witnesses into this discussion. I want to start with you, Ms. Boutette, because of your background in housing and wraparound services.
In addition to what I just mentioned, there was $45 million for a pilot project to reduce veterans homelessness through rent supplements and wraparound services, such as counselling, addictions and finding a job.
Given that you work in this area, what advice would you have for the government in putting this pilot together? Secondly, what is the impact on a veteran's family when there are wraparound services and housing supports?