The federal and provincial governments have announced $300,000 dollars in funding to help address homelessness in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The demand for emergency housing has increased dramatically in central Labrador in recent years.

In December a man died after being found unresponsive in the snow outside the Housing Hub on Hillcrest Road. Last month, a woman was found dead outside the Labrador Inn, which serves as the overflow when the emergency shelter is full.

$200,000 dollars of the cost-shared funding is being provided to the Nunatsiavut Government to support the Housing Hub emergency shelter. The money will be used to create a Housing Navigator position to work with government and community partners to help the homeless.

$100,000 dollars is being provided to the Labrador Friendship Centre to complete what’s being called a community-led needs assessment to identify gaps in infrastructure or services required.