Canadian Gov't Witholds $70 Million From Homeless

"More than $70-million in federal money earmarked for the homeless was never spent, despite an urgent need across the country, an internal study says."

"The draft report...found no satisfactory explanation for why government officials appeared to withhold available cash from Canada's soup kitchens and emergency shelters. The apparent shortfall occurred in the National Homelessness Initiative, a seven-year program begun in 1999 to respond to a perceived surge in the number of Canadians living on the streets."

"The just-released draft report, based on work in 2006, generally praises the program, saying it 'had substantial impacts on the daily lives of those in Canada who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. . . . They included youth, aboriginal people, people addressing mental health and addiction issues, new immigrants, single parents, and survivors of abuse or violence.'"