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Laurie in Question Period

Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund

Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a constituent who is newly released from prison. He qualified and applied for the homeless and eviction prevention fund, and he had approached a government social worker for temporary income support benefits. He was turned down because he couldn’t provide a business card to prove that he was working, and then the housing worker turned him down because the support worker turned him down. After intervention he did get the housing money. My question is to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Have government workers been directed to consider emergency shelters like WEAC, the Herb Jamieson, and the Hope Mission as homes, therefore making people ineligible for the homeless and eviction protection fund?

Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there is a need for affordable housing, and the homeless and eviction fund has helped a number of individuals. When it comes to that specific case, we would have to be directed and given the information, and then we could follow up and try to help the particular individual. We are keeping on creating new units for Albertans in need of affordable housing, and that naturally takes time. Meanwhile, whoever gets eviction notices and needs help, we’re prepared to work with them.

Ms Blakeman: He’s just emblematic of others.

Again to the same minister: given that this fellow qualified for both programs, why did he have to have proof of a job before he could apply for benefits that are supposed to help him find a job?

Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, we will help the individuals. Our role is to try to, you know, make sure that the individuals will qualify for individual work, and if we can be of assistance in terms of helping them with retraining or support at any level, that’s our mandate, and we will keep on working with those individuals. Again, going to the homeless and eviction fund, in the last year we’ve provided $96 million to individuals across Alberta, so we are helping individuals.

Ms Blakeman: To the same minister: why aren’t these programs working together to help people instead of collaborating to prevent or delay them from accessing the benefits that they qualify for?

Mr. Goudreau: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m very, very conscientious in terms of individuals needing different requirements for different programs. Wherever we can co ordinate and help, we will, and if we can use the information that another ministry might have to facilitate things, then I’m prepared to look at that.