Simcoe County is receiving more than $14 million in funding from the Ontario government to prevent homelessness.
Chris Ballard, the Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy made the announcement Tuesday at the Salvation Army’s Bayside Mission in Barrie.
The funding is part of the government’s Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative and will support local homeless shelters and affordable housing projects.
The Province is providing $632 million to municipalities over the two years to help families and individuals at risk of homelessness stay in their current homes or get access to the type of housing they need through a wider range of services and homelessness prevention programs.
The County of Simcoe will decide how the money is divided up over the next two years.
Those services will include emergency financial assistance to prevention eviction, long-term and transitional housing and integrated supportive housing to help people with specific needs access suitable housing.
“The program has helped thousands of at-risk families and individuals retain and find secure housing, allowing them to build healthy, stable lives,” said Ballard.
For Barrie, the government’s announcement fits in nicely with the city’s plan to create 800 new affordable housing units over the next eight years.
“"Part of that goal is to encourage developers to build affordable housing, and it will dovetail nicely with the county's program which will make incentives available to developers to build affordable housing," said city councillor Barry Ward.
No matter how the money is spent, local service agencies say it’s welcomed.
"We're in an affordable crisis right now. We're 5th highest rental rate in Canada. Those are huge pieces that are contributing to homelessness in our county, and in our city,” said Sarah Peddle with the David Busby Centre.
Last year, the initiative helped almost 40,000 homeless families and individuals obtain housing and more than 115,000 families and individuals at-risk of homelessness remain in their homes.
-With a report from CTV Barrie’s Brandon Rowe
