Brantford City Council has approved authorizing the City to enter into a Transfer Payment Agreement with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) to implement the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF) Project.
Through this agreement, Brantford will receive up to $499,943 in federal funding to launch an innovative pilot program with the objective of preventing homelessness and strengthening housing stability across the community.
The HRIF is part of the Government of Canada’s Budget 2024 commitment to support communities across the country in testing and documenting system-level interventions that lead to measurable reductions in homelessness. Brantford was selected following the community’s nationally recognized achievements in advancing Quality By Name Data to the 4.0 standard for both its overall and unsheltered populations.
The approved project will expand the City’s existing Housing Stability Worker Program to better support tenants living in the twelve non-profit and co-operative housing sites funded and overseen by the City. Funding will support the hiring of two temporary Housing Stability Workers, a temporary Landlord Liaison (Project Manager), and Indigenous-led contracted supports to ensure culturally responsive, trauma informed services for Indigenous tenants.
The pilot program seeks to reduce homelessness by preventing evictions, improving tenancy outcomes, and strengthening collaboration with community housing providers. Targeted outcomes include preventing at least 48 individuals from entering homelessness, contributing to a four per cent reduction in local homelessness by March 31, 2027.
“This funding enables us to take a proactive, data driven approach to preventing homelessness in our community,” said Mary Musson, Commissioner of Community Services and Social Development. “By strengthening supports for tenants and working closely with our housing providers, we are helping people remain safely and stably housed. This project reflects our commitment to innovative, compassionate solutions that make a real difference for Brantford and Brant residents.”
With Council’s approval, City staff are authorized to finalize and execute the Transfer Payment Agreement and begin recruitment of project staff. The program will launch on April 1, 2026, and run through March 31, 2027.
