Mark Carney Pledges $17.8 Billion to End Homelessness

Prime Minister Mark Carney released the 2026 federal budget on Thursday, pledging to end homelessness in Canada within 10 years. The plan allocates $11.2 billion over the next four years and $17.8 billion over a decade to create supportive and transitional housing, with a target of building 200,000 new homes for an estimated 65,000 homeless Canadians.

The strategy utilizes Build Canada Homes, a Crown corporation capitalized with C$13 billion, to expand non-market housing. A central component is the Integrated Supports Fund, which pairs transitional housing with mental health, addiction, and social services. The budget includes a $2 billion commitment for community mental health and addictions facilities and expanded investment in the Canada Housing Benefit for low-income renters. Under the plan, the federal government will cover capital costs, while provincial and territorial governments are expected to fund ongoing operations.

Implementation begins in Winnipeg, where the government will build a new Centre for Mental Health and Addictions and 2,000 transitional and supportive homes. Prime Minister Carney visited the city to promote the agenda alongside Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and the mayors of Winnipeg and Montreal.

While the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness praised the budget as a decisive first step, NDP Leader Avi Lewis emphasized the need to ensure funds remain for public sector use. The measures arrive as the Reaching Home prevention mechanism and the National Housing Strategy approach their 2028 expiration dates.