Orillia launches new supportive housing program to combat homelessness
The City of Orillia is set to introduce a new temporary supportive rapid rehousing program, mirroring the one in operation on Rose Street in Barrie.
Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac highlighted the program's role in providing housing solutions for up to 180 days while offering essential support services.
"This is a transitionary program for homeless people," McIsaac explained. "We hope to be able to have someone who is homeless get into a situation where they get support, they get counselling, they can get help finding a home, finding a job, and get a permanent home."
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
Financial backing for the facility includes $100,000 from the City over five years and roughly $800,000 from the County.
Initially, the program will accommodate 20 to 40 individuals in its inaugural year, scaling up to support up to 200 people over its five-year planned operation.
City Councillor Janet-Lynne Durnford underscored the program's core principle of "housing first," providing a stable living environment for individuals experiencing homelessness.
"The whole idea of this project is that people who are relatively newly homeless will have somewhere to live," she added.
The initiative aims to alleviate pressure on existing shelters like the Lighthouse.
"We're full every single night," said Linda Goodall, executive director at the Lighthouse shelter in Orillia. Goodall added that the rehousing project could "free up space for those living on the streets."
"The rapid supportive rehousing program last summer did very well. It had about a 90 per cent success rate. Eighteen out of 20 people were permanently housed in less than 180 days," noted Mina Fayez-Bahgat, County of Simcoe Social and Community Services general manager.
The next phase for the City involves securing a suitable location on a transit route.
"We need a piece of land that is habitable, that is flat, that has some parking, and essentially a piece of land that we can put a modular housing unit as soon as possible with as little preparation as possible," said Durnford.
As the City explores potential sites, the County will engage in finding an agency to operate the facility, with the goal of having it operational by fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.