Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns about the housing first approach announced in budget 2013 and its negative impact on community outreach programs for homeless Canadians and others living in precarious situations.
In Montreal alone, shelters serve over 2,000 individuals on a nightly basis and, as we know, citizens in shelters account for only the tip of the iceberg.
Budget 2013 leaves community outreach groups focused on the homeless in the dark about whether they will have the funding required to maintain their services.
Focusing on housing excludes other very important initiatives that help people leave homelessness behind once and for all.
The government has a responsibility to continue to fund proven and effective programs provided by community outreach groups and to protect and support vulnerable Canadians. I hope the government will reconsider.