Canada is approaching a breaking point. All levels of government must collaborate to address homelessness, which affects an increasing number of Canadians each year. Projections from the Canadian tech company HelpSeeker indicate that if this trend continues, nearly half a million people could become homeless by 2030. Morgan emphasized that the federal Reaching Home program is a proven initiative that supports vulnerable populations in urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities by enabling access to emergency shelters as needed. He expressed concern that, despite receiving additional funding in Budget 2024, municipalities are still awaiting updates on new financial support. Scott Pearce, Mayor of the Township of Gore, QC, and past president of FCM, noted that many challenges facing larger cities, such as homelessness, affordability, and aging infrastructure, also impact rural and remote communities. He highlighted that the majority of FCM’s membership 184 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02
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