The City of Brantford has secured nearly $500,000 in federal funding to launch a pilot program aimed at preventing homelessness and strengthening housing stability in the community.
City council has approved entering into a transfer payment agreement with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness to implement the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF) project.
Through the agreement, Brantford will receive up to $499,943 to support the initiative.
The HRIF is part of the Government of Canada’s 2024 budget commitment to help communities test and document system-level approaches that reduce homelessness.
Brantford was selected for funding following its nationally recognized progress in advancing Quality By Name Data to the 4.0 standard for both its overall and unsheltered populations, a data framework used to track and address homelessness.
The approved project will expand the City’s Housing Stability Worker Program, providing additional support to tenants living in 12 non-profit and co-operative housing sites funded and overseen by the municipality.
Funding will allow the City to hire two temporary housing stability workers, a temporary landlord liaison who will serve as project manager, and Indigenous-led contracted supports to ensure culturally responsive and trauma-informed services for Indigenous tenants.
The pilot program is designed to reduce homelessness by preventing evictions, improving tenancy outcomes, and strengthening collaboration between the City and community housing providers.
Officials estimate the initiative could prevent at least 48 people from entering homelessness and contribute 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,” she said.
“This project reflects our commitment to innovative, compassionate solutions that make a real difference for Brantford and Brant residents.”
With council approval in place, City staff are now authorized to finalize the funding agreement and begin recruiting project staff.
The pilot program is scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026, and will run through March 31, 2027.
City officials say results from the project will be monitored and documented to help inform future homelessness prevention strategies in Brantford and other communities.
