NEWS RELEASE
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
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The Ontario government is providing $7.3 million to help create safe and affordable housing in York Region. The social services relief funding will be used to build about 24 modular transitional housing units — with onsite services and counselling supports — for vulnerable people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
"Our government recognizes the importance of providing life-changing projects to ensure vulnerable people in York Region, including youth, get access to safe housing during COVID-19 and beyond," said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. "These units will provide a home for those who need it most along with access to critical services to help people work through their challenges with the support of compassionate professionals."
Approximately 16 units will be located in East Gwillimbury on the same site as an existing emergency shelter for families. About another eight units will be located in Georgina and will be specifically geared to young people experiencing homelessness, with supports provided by the Salvation Army, which operates a youth shelter at the site.
"Our government's $765 million Social Services Relief Fund was designed to provide immediate housing and homelessness program relief in communities across Ontario so that we can keep people safe and housed," said Steve Clark, minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "It is critical that we fund innovative housing projects that can be completed rapidly to give those in need a safe place to call home as soon as possible."
The mix of one and two-bedroom suites will include accessibility features such as exterior ramps, barrier-free showers and wheelchair accessible sinks. A full 15 per cent of all units will be fully accessible.
"Housing is a fundamental need. It supports positive health and connects residents to the economy, transportation systems and community services," said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. "Thanks to the provincial government's continued support of our most vulnerable residents, York Region can further invest in affordable transitional housing that helps those at risk of homelessness and those experiencing homelessness achieve long-term housing stability and independence."
York Region will be launching community consultations on the modular housing projects and construction is expected to begin in late May and be completed by December 2021.
Quick facts:
• York Region has received $32.3 million in funding through Ontario’s Social Services Relief Fund, which is designed to help municipalities and Indigenous program partners deliver critical services, such as shelters, food banks, funding for rental arrears and housing.
• The province recently announced an additional $255 million in funding to protect the staff and residents of homeless shelters, bringing the government’s total investment in social services relief funding to $765 million during COVID-19.
• The government has also recently provided $147 million to help expand access to the provincial mental health and addictions system. This funding builds on the province’s $176 million investment in the Roadmap to Wellness, a comprehensive plan to build a fully connected mental health and addictions system across the province. York Region has received $341,475 in funding as part of this investment.
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