KITCHENER – Wellington County’s social services administrator Luisa Artuso recently participated in a round table discussion with federal officials, including the prime minister, regarding housing and homelessness.
Officials say the meeting focused on ending homelessness and working towards providing additional transitional and affordable housing options for residents in Wellington and Guelph.
Kitchener South-Hespeler MP Valerie Bradford invited Artuso, Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield, Stepping Stone executive director Gail Hoeskstra and Dominica McPherson, director of the Guelph-Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ministry of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen for the Aug. 30 forum.
“We had a very productive discussion with Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Hussen,” said Artuso.
“We had the opportunity to share the challenges we are facing in the City of Guelph and the County of Wellington and some of the successful strategies we have been able to implement by using funding from the Government of Canada. ”
Artuso added, “By working together, all levels of government and supportive communities can help end chronic homelessness and ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.”
Following the discussion, the prime minister announced the federal government will be investing $2 billion to address homeless and affordable housing challenges across the country.
