Metro Vancouver has awarded $11 million in funding to 39 organizations that provide homeless people with shelter and relief services. The funding includes $2.3 million for emergency shelter services, $1.4 million for transitional and supportive housing, $2.1 million toward services for under-served populations such as Aboriginals and young women, plus $1.5 million for prevention services. "I'm pleased that we are providing financial assistance to organizations that help improve the lives of society's most vulnerable," said Metro Vancouver Chair Greg Moore. "Our partnership with the Government of Canada helps ensure that needed funds are distributed to organizations best able to help reduce homelessness in our region." In April 2011, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) granted Metro Vancouver administrative authority over the Homelessness Partnering Strategy funds for the Metro Vancouver region. In partnership with Vancity Community Foundation and the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH), Metro Vancouver is responsible for developing funding priorities, requesting proposals, reviewing, approving and monitoring projects, plus reporting project results to HRSDC. "Our focus is on getting people off the streets and into the housing continuum," said Metro Vancouver Housing Committee Chair Wayne Wright. "That begins with shelters and transitional housing." "This year's selections are based on community-identified funding priorities," said Derek Gent, Executive Director of Vancity Community Foundation. "This is a great example of collaboration between federal and local governments, the private sector and the community." "This year's competition for funds was significantly stronger than before," said Alice Sundberg, Cochair of the RSCH, which led the proposal selection process. "Our aim was to support projects with the most efficient means to achieve their goals." The Homelessness Partnering Strategy is a federally-funded program created to support the work of communities across Canada seeking to address homelessness. National funding for the program is approximately $135 million per year, of which the Metro Vancouver region receives approximately $8.2 million.