The Executive Director of End Homelessness St. John’s was pleased to hear the Government Services Minister vow to end homelessness in the metro region, but is eager to see government take meaningful action to address the issue.

Mike Goosney stood in the House of Assembly last week to declare that he will “make sure there’s no homelessness.”

Doug Pawson says the factors affecting a person’s ability to access safe, permanent and affordable housing are complex.

He says more than 90 per cent of people without a place to live, have at least one disability.

“It’s going to be a matter of investing in housing, it’s going to be a matter of investing in health. And for Minister Goosney, the minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act under Service NL, it’s also about changing legislation to reduce vulnerabilities to end homelessness.”

“Newfoundland and Labrador for example, is the only province left in the country with no-fault evictions where the landlord can issue an eviction notice, with 90 days notice, with no reason. So these are the kind of multiple sequencing of investments that should inform a housing and homelessness strategy.”