The housing minister admits that while totally eliminating homelessness is a “tall order,” government has numerous plans they are working on to address the issue.

In the House of Assembly last week, Government Services Minister Mike Goosney said he made sure there was “no homelessness” when he was the mayor of Deer Lake, and he wants to “make sure there’s no homelessness” in the metro region either.

St. John’s West MHA Keith White challenged the minister in the house yesterday on his claims of there being nobody in Deer Lake without a place to call their own.

“We have heard from people on the weekend who have experienced homelessness in the Deer Lake area. Why did the minister say that?” asked MHA White.

Minister Goosney avoided commenting further on whether there is homelessness in Deer Lake.

He acknowledges that he made a broad statement, but insists that he is about solutions. He says his late father always told him that if he wanted to make a difference, he had to get the attention of those who he is trying to help.