VICTORIA - The British Columbia government is expanding supports for former youth in care as part of a cross-government approach to target the root causes of homelessness.
Several cabinet ministers gathered for a news conference to share details of $633 million first announced in Budget 2022 for supports over three years for people experiencing homelessness.
Mitzi Dean, minister of children and family development, says $35 million over three years will help former youth in care, almost half of whom experience homelessness at some point in their lives.
Thanks to #Budget2022 we’re working across government to reduce #homelessness in #BC - including improved supports & services for youth from care up until they turn 27 🎉 Learn more: https://t.co/7Tfq3XYZI1@s_malcolmson @Dave_Eby @NicholasSimons @selinarobinson @BCGovNews pic.twitter.com/4gBgMfEjCl
— Mitzi Dean (@MitziDeanBC) March 17, 2022
It will help cover an unconditional one-year income supplement of $1,250 per month that Dean says will not be limited by earnings, so youth have an incentive to work and build independence.
The young adults will also be eligible for a $600-a-month rental supplement and increased access to counselling, medical benefits and life-skills programming.
Other funds to help the homeless outlined by the ministers include $164 million to expand the government's complex-care housing program and $264 million for a permanent housing plan to support about 3,000 people who were temporarily housed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is the first time the province has created a comprehensive cross-government approach to supporting youth in and from care," Dean says.
