Mr. Speaker, women, girls and gender-diverse people who are unhoused are invisible in our country. Being without a home or being precariously housed can look different for women. Many find temporary shelter in their car or on a friend's couch.
To make matters worse, as the cost of living increases, more people are left out in the cold. To help, we need vital, person-centred wraparound services and housing. In Nanaimo—Ladysmith, Island Crisis Care Society provides these vital supports. I am so grateful for the incredible work it does, but it cannot do this work alone. Life-saving supports are needed. Instead, we have seen federal cuts. The Reaching Home program was slashed a devastating 60% in Nanaimo this year.
Many in our communities are doing all they can, but they need support. It is time to see the necessary federal investment and leadership now.