A windfall of cash will help protect Simcoe County’s most vulnerable citizens into the winter months.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin, Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney recently announced the county would receive an additional $3.4 million in Phase 2 of the Social Services Relief funding to support the COVID-19 homeless in hotels program, as well as provide support to the Home Horizon Youth Transitional Housing project and additional rent relief for those struggling through the pandemic.
Earlier in the pandemic, the county received $2.4 million through Phase 1 of the Social Services Relief Fund for the project, which has now been fully spent. Approximately $3.4 million in federal Reaching Home funding has also been spent on the program.
“The pandemic has impacted our service providers and agencies, while increasing the needs among our most vulnerable residents,” said Simcoe County Warden George Cornell. “In September, we applied for additional funding to address our regional needs. Analysis of the need and ongoing communication/collaboration with stakeholders helped inform the business case we submitted as part of our application.
"We are pleased to have received approval, and these new funds will be used to support costs associated with the county’s continued emergency response to homelessness prevention during the pandemic,” he added.
Cornell said before the funding can be spent, a staff report with recommendations will be prepared and presented to county council for a vote in the coming weeks.
Some of the recommended uses for the money will include continuing with the current motel model of homeless sheltering to meet ongoing and growing demands during the winter months, as well as retrofitting local shelters to meet safety requirements brought on by the pandemic.
Other suggestions will include increasing transitional housing capacity and providing supports for housing retention.
“We look forward to working with our area partners to further respond to their needs and support our residents,” said Cornell.
This provincial funding is part of the government’s $510-million, provincewide investment to help protect the health and safety of Ontario’s most vulnerable people.
Funding will be delivered through the Social Services Relief Fund and will go toward protecting and supporting homeless shelter staff and residents, creating or renovating more than 1,500 housing units, extending rent support programs, and creating longer-term housing solutions.
