Sure. Thank you so much for that really important question.
I think when we look at homelessness, it's an issue that impacts us from coast to coast to coast.
In the last budget, we announced almost $80 million—I think it was $79.6 million—to help alleviate the homelessness situation here within this country.
I'm working closely with my friend and colleague Minister Fraser with respect to outlining what that program is going to look like. We've put out a call for proposals and have received many applications thus far from different groups across the country. I'm looking forward to being able to make some of those announcements in the very near future.
With respect to that funding, however, there are two elements that are really important.
We want to make sure that veterans are going to have access to rent subsidies, in order to help them alleviate the high cost of rents in the country.
The other part of the funding, as well, is for wraparound services. We want to make sure that, for veterans who are struggling with mental health issues, substance use and addictions, or whatever the case may be, wraparound services will be available to them if they need them.
We want to set people up for success and not failure. Being a past social worker, I've heard many a time that if they don't have those wraparound services, it can be a bit of an issue.
Moving forward with this funding that we've announced, which we're going to be rolling out in the very near future.... Again, it will provide individuals with the type of help and support they need.
When it comes to housing, as well, I think we have to keep in mind that we have to work with all levels of government—municipalities, provinces and the federal government.
When I became the veterans affairs minister, I had an opportunity in the first week to be in Ottawa and to visit Veterans' House. I don't know if any of the committee members have had the opportunity to do that.
It's a not-for-profit organization that has built an apartment complex, and it is housing veterans. The first floor is more of a general area where many people can meet. They have access to wraparound services as well. So far, that program has worked very well. Using that model, the not-for-profit agency is hoping to open others of these apartment buildings across the country in two or three more cities they have been able to identify. Again, that's a type of an example of partnerships with provincial government, federal government and also municipalities.
Another quick example that I can give is the Surrey Legion. My friend and colleague Randeep Sarai is not here today, but in his area, the Surrey Legion had a wonderful piece of land. It was prime real estate.
Their legion perhaps wasn't as active as it usually is, so they took that piece of land, and a private developer came in, and they were able to establish a partnership. They were able to build a skyrise, if you will—not a skyrise but a multi-level apartment complex. The legion is still housed there, but it's a brand new facility. Up top, there are housing units for our veterans. Also downstairs is a medical clinic.
Again, it's not a one-size-fits-all. I think you can't have a cookie-cutter approach, but there are many options available for different folks across the country.
