The federal Liberal government is pledging to end homelessness across Canada within 10 years, with Toronto officials pointing to provincial health supports as a key part of making the commitment work.

According to reporting by CityNews’ Brandon Choghri, Thursday’s federal budget offers $11.2 billion to address homelessness over four years, starting in 2027, and $17.8 billion over 10 years. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the goal as ambitious and dependent on investment and partnerships with other levels of government.

Toronto-Danforth Liberal MP Dabrusin said cities, provinces and philanthropic organizations would need to work together to deliver it.

“So it is ambitious, but working together with cities, with provinces, with philanthropic organizations, if we all commit to work together we can get it done,” she told CityNews.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow called on Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government to reach an agreement with Ottawa on the health and other wraparound services needed for supportive housing. Those health services fall under provincial jurisdiction.

Chow said federal-provincial agreements, beginning in Manitoba, would support that work. She urged Ontario to participate so more supportive housing could be built quickly.

The pledge follows an earlier federal commitment that has not produced the intended reduction. CityNews reported that Canada promised in 2017 to halve chronic homelessness by the 2027–28 fiscal year, but chronic homelessness rose 59 per cent between 2020 and 2025.

A federal count in 2025 reported an estimated 65,000 people experiencing homelessness across the country, according to CityNews.

Sources