Ontario protects homeless

 Additional funding helps keep vulnerable people safe in Haldimand-Norfolk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2021

SIMCOE —The Ontario government is providing $1,577,867 to help Health and Social Services Haldimand and Norfolk to help keep vulnerable people safe. The new funding will protect homeless shelter staff and residents, and help prevent more people from becoming homeless.

“This funding is another support provided to Haldimand-Norfolk that will assist with mitigating the impacts of the pandemic on the less fortunate,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.

The local total funding provided through the Social Services Relief Fund is more than $4.7 million. Municipalities and Indigenous program partners can use the funding for motel and hotel spaces to support physical distancing of shelter residents, hire more shelter staff, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, and add to rent and utility banks to prevent people from becoming homeless.

Today’s announcement is part of the province’s additional $255 million investment through the Social Services Relief Fund.

“Our government is once again taking immediate action to save lives by responding to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in some emergency shelters across the province,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This investment will ensure our municipal service managers can keep vulnerable people and shelter workers safe by providing them with the financial ability to take any means necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 in shelter spaces.”

Under the Social Services Relief Fund, Ontario has provided $765 million to help service managers and Indigenous program partners support shelters, create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable Ontarians affected by COVID-19, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

QUICK FACTS

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

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

-30-

For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org