City of Hamilton set to receive new homelessness federal funding

The City of Hamilton is set to receive $2.7 million in federal funding to support homelessness initiatives.

The funds come as the City says it’s seeing significant increase in pressure with its homeless-serving services.

The funding is from the federal government’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, initially launched in 2024.

The $250-million fund was distributed to municipalities across the country, with the City receiving $5.2 million from 2024 to 2026.

The money was used to support local services and supports for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness and helped the City expand its temporary shelter spaces, including Barton-Tiffany.

The City says the $2.7 million will help offset municipal operating costs and its encampment management strategies while continuing to support Indigenous-led projects.

It’s all part of the City’s broader goal of addressing chronic homelessness in the region.

In July the City announced its Housing and Homelessness Action Plan through 2035, outlining four priorities:

• To prevent and divert;
• To increase stock of affordable supporting housing;
• To continue improvements;
• And to enhance supports.

According to public data, homelessness almost doubled in the last five years.

Year-over-year data shows the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton as of July of this year at over 2,000 — almost double the 1,084 the City saw in July of 2021.

Housing Services is bringing the $2.7 million funding forward at a General Issues Committee this morning, advising the City receive it.