The federal Liberals plan to spend $1 billion over the next six months so cities and housing providers can buy properties being sold because of the COVID-19 pandemic and use them to keep people from becoming homeless. The details of the program unveiled Monday fill what was seen as a gap in the Liberals' decade-long national housing strategy. The Liberals say the program will create 3,000 new affordable housing units across Canada, and want all the funds committed by the end of March 2021, when the federal fiscal year finishes. Municipalities, provinces, territories, Indigenous governing bodies and agencies as well as non-profit organizations can tap into the money that for now appears to be a one-time program. "We're seeing some really interesting movement from government, but I'm fearful that … they're not grappling with the whole (picture)," Farha said.

Source: CBC News September 21, 2020 23:15 UTC