Cobourg, ON – June 20, 2018 – The 2017 Housing and Homelessness Annual Report, released today, captures progress made over the last year by Northumberland County and community partners to strengthen the coordinated system of housing and homelessness supports for local residents.
“Now at the halfway point in Northumberland County’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan, we continue to gain ground on realizing the 27 stated objectives,” states Director of Community & Social Services Lisa Horne. “While we continue to contend with challenges including a low vacancy rate, rising house prices, and a complex urban/rural environment, this report reflects that we are making important progress in improving our coordinated response and targeting the tools we have to best assist those in need. We look forward to sustaining and growing this progress.”
The 10-year Housing & Homelessness plan outlines a long-term community vision of ending chronic homelessness through a Housing First approach, which emphasizes preventive measures that stabilize people’s housing. The 2017 annual report summarizes the impact of programs in place and the community partnerships essential to fulfilling this strategic direction. Some of the key deliverables for 2017 included:
· Groundbreaking and launch of construction on a 31-unit affordable housing build in Cobourg geared to seniors and people with disabilities.
· Delivery of $764,800 in repairs to social housing stock.
· Creation of a Housing Support Program providing monthly rent subsidies to low income households in private rental agreements.
· Launch of Renovate Northumberland, a home renovation program with Habitat for Humanity Northumberland supporting low to mid-income homeowners in making critical repairs that will enable them to stay in their homes.
· Expansion of the Shelter Benefit Program.
· Funding for a two-year HomeShare pilot program matching senior homeowner women with other women seeking affordable housing.
· Development of a By-Name List of people experiencing homelessness in Northumberland, facilitating effective decisions around how to best serve and refer individuals to housing resources.
“Council remains committed to the vision and objectives put forward in the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan,” states County Warden Mark Lovshin. “We are proud of our community’s efforts to date, and the year ahead promises further progress. A home for everyone is key, and Northumberland County and partner agencies will strive to achieve new milestones together in 2018 towards this end.”
The full report is available at NorthumberlandCounty.ca/2017HHPReport.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
