New rules for homeless funding

The federal government announced new rules today that will give cities leeway on how to spend money on initiatives to tackle homelessness.

Many living in the streets say more money needs to be spent on affordable housing immediately, or the homeless problem is going to continue to get worse.

They’ve resorted to digging through trash for things to sell, to get money for food.

Last year, the federal government committed 40 billion over ten years to tackle homelessness, and announced another 2.1 billion today, giving cities more flexibility in how to spend that money.

Officials with the Good Shepherd Centre know where that cash needs to go.

They need a mass amount of units in the community. Without those units, they have nowhere to move people from the street.

Bessu Biru was a nurse with Hamilton Health Sciences for nearly 20 years before a car accident four years ago left her unable to work.

She became homeless in January after a split with her husband.

Just last week she moved into this social housing apartment.