The City of London says it’s the first community in Canada to solve veteran homelessness.
According to the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), London has achieved functional zero veteran homelessness. This means the number of homeless veterans is less than or equal to the number of veterans a community has proven it can house in a month.
In a release from the city Tuesday, it said London functionally ended veteran homelessness in October and is now sustaining it and working toward absolute zero.
According to the city, it was able reduce the number of homeless veterans by over 57 per cent between March and August of last year by focusing on data, building a unified local team, and strengthening key relationships with organizations serving veterans.
City Manager of Homeless Prevention Craig Cooper said functionally ending veteran homelessness in London is a great step to address the city's homelessness crisis.
“Our shift towards a data-driven housing approach enabled our community to systematically house our homeless veterans and achieve and sustain functional zero."
The city also said that the CAEH Built for Zero Canada (BFZ-C) campaign, which has a goal of ending chronic and veteran homelessness, turned the pandemic into an opportunity to transform its system and better serve veterans experiencing homelessness.
BFZ-C Director Marie Morrison said London's efforts have proven that ending homelessness is possible
“Achieving a functional end to veteran homelessness means that the community now aims to sustain those gains while working toward absolute zero," said Morrison. "We know they can do it because they’re working collaboratively and share the same goal that no one should experience homelessness, including people who have served our country.”
This milestone was achieved thanks to the Royal Canadian Legion, CAF London Morale and Welfare Services, London Cares Homeless Response Services, Local Emergency Shelter, London Police, Veterans Affairs Canada, City of London Homeless Prevention, Parkwood – Occupational Stress Injury Clinic, Department of National Defense – OSISS, and Lawson Research Institute.
