Ontario Providing More Support to Communities including Northumberland County

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Local

The Ontario government is providing an additional $1,626,100 to help the County of Northumberland deliver critical services, create longer-term housing solutions and keep vulnerable people safe.

This additional Social Services Relief funding brings the total support for the County of Northumberland to $5,666,868.
Today’s announcement is part of the province’s additional $307 million investment to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners respond to COVID-19. This investment builds upon the $765 million dollars of Social Services Relief Funding announced in 2020- 2021, for a total support to communities of over $1 billion.

“Partners like Northumberland County Community & Social Services are doing critical work to help the most vulnerable populations in our community,” said MPP David Piccini. “This additional investment continues to ensure our municipal service manager is able to have the resources they need to keep their communities safe, respond to local
needs, protect and serve our most vulnerable populations, and support long-term measures that will boost our collaborative and coordinated response to homelessness.

The plan for these funds have been well thought out by Social Services staff and system partners, and really focus on sustainable local solutions.”

Municipalities and Indigenous community partners can use the funding to protect homeless shelter staff and residents, add to rent banks, build affordable housing, and support plans to prepare for potential future outbreaks and/or emergencies.

“We sincerely appreciate the continued support from the Province to ensure responsive, coordinated services for the most vulnerable members of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” states Warden Bob Crate. “This investment of additional Social Services Relief funding will sustain critical shelter, housing and outreach supports for
Northumberland residents experiencing – or at risk of – homelessness, helping system partners to protect the health and safety of this at-risk population while navigating the impacts of the pandemic and transitioning to community recovery.”

QUICK FACTS
· Regional Municipality of Durham received an additional $6,740,800.

· City of Peterborough received an additional $2,300,300.

· Ontario launched the Social Services Relief Fund in March 2020 to help protect the health and safety of the province’s most vulnerable people during COVID-19.

· The province-wide investment includes $21 million of funding under the previously announced Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) that is being allocated to help support community housing.

· As part of its Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19, Ontario is investing approximately $1.3 billion in 2021-2022 to help sustain, repair and grow community housing and help end homelessness. This
includes the Social Services Relief Fund.