Budget 2026 Pledges Nearly $30 Billion to End Homelessness in Canada Within 10 Years

The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Rebecca Alty, highlighted in Yellowknife on November 8 a Budget 2026 plan backed by nearly $30 billion to end homelessness in Canada within 10 years. Alty called it an unprecedented federal initiative: homelessness is about more than a roof over one's head — it also involves daily support, a stable home, and health care, including for mental health and addictions — and Budget 2026 brings help, housing and health together. (Archive image: a newly built residential building.)

Help: $6.5 billion to renew Reaching Home; $5.5 billion in rental support

On help, the budget provides $6.5 billion to renew and strengthen the Reaching Home initiative and support for veteran homelessness, funding community-led prevention, help for people to access shelter and essential services, employment support and a permanent home; communities will be expected to provide more consistent and timely data to measure the scale of homelessness and track progress in reducing it. A further $5.5 billion renews the Canada Housing Benefit, providing direct monthly rental assistance to low-income Canadians, including survivors of gender-based violence, so they can pay rent, keep their homes and avoid becoming homeless.

Housing: $10 billion for about 25,000 supportive and transitional homes

On housing, the federal government will provide $10 billion through Build Canada Homes to support the delivery of about 25,000 supportive and transitional homes across Canada: the federal government will fund construction, while provinces and territories fund operations and the services residents need to stay housed. The investment will grow as more partners step forward.

Health: $5 billion Integrated Supports Fund puts housing and treatment under one roof

On health, the budget creates a new $5 billion Integrated Supports Fund, delivered through Build Canada Homes, to build facilities that bring together housing, health care, mental health and addictions treatment and other social services, with public, private and philanthropic partners. The model builds on the success of Toronto's Dunn House, where residents' emergency room visits have been cut in half. A further $2 billion for the Build Communities Strong Fund's Health Infrastructure Fund will build new community mental health and addictions treatment facilities and refurbish existing ones.

Finance minister: lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty; delivery comes next

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Budget 2026 will help lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty, while putting Canada on a path to end homelessness, create more non-market housing and build a housing market that works for everyone; Alty said the government is taking meaningful action with its partners so that everyone has a place to call home. The plan comes from Budget 2026, tabled on November 5; delivery will now depend on federal, provincial and territorial coordination over construction and operations, and on whether homes are actually built and services put in place at pace.