MEDIA RELEASE

TBDSSAB receives $1.84 million in additional Social Services Relief Funding

November 5, 2020 – The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) will receive $1.84 million from the Ontario Government’s Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF). The provincial funding will be used to support organizations in the District to create or renovate housing units, expand rent support programs, and to provide needed supports related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario announced a new Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF), delivered under the existing Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI). The SSRF allows community service managers to determine services and supports for vulnerable populations based on local need. Phase 1 of SSRF rolled out in April 2020. In August, the province announced it was initiating SSRF Phase 2 to allow the continuation of support for current efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and to address new priority challenges.

“The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, advised me last week that under SSRF Phase 2, TBDSSAB will receive an allocation of $1,840,459 in 2020-2021,” says Lucy Kloosterhuis, Board Chair. TBDSSAB may be eligible for additional funding toward operating and capital project components in early 2021, pending further review by the province.

The initiatives eligible under SSRF Phase 2 reflect the same areas as the CHPI program; funds will be used to support emergency shelter solutions, housing and related supports, homelessness prevention, rent support programs, or capital costs for upgrades to existing facilities. For the capital projects permitted under SSRF Phase 2, TBDSSAB recommended several projects with community partners that would provide for improvements to the existing emergency shelter and transitional shelter system, as well as the construction of new youth transitional housing options.

“Through the work undertaken by TBDSSAB and community partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, pathways have been established to connect homeless individuals with ongoing physical and mental health supports, and plan for access into safe and stable housing options,” says Bill Bradica, CAO, TBDSSAB. “Under Phase 2, enhanced partnerships with community supports will continue, and the ability to provide funding and other supports to vulnerable populations will be enhanced.”

“TBDSSAB received $1,168,300 from SSRF Phase 1 in April 2020, and to date has distributed over $1 million to individuals and organizations, providing isolation and overflow shelter, PPE and cleaning supplies, community food supports and additional supports to community non-profit housing,” says Ken Ranta, Director of integrated Social Services. The CHPI Emergency Pandemic Relief Fund was established to provide financial support to organizations that are suffering increased or new costs in supporting people experiencing homelessness or preventing homelessness due to COVID-19. Applications for the CHPI Emergency Pandemic Fund are still being accepted. Information about how to apply can be found on our website, here: www.tbdssab.ca/emergency-pandemic-fund/

The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is the service system manager for Child Care and Early Years programs, Community Housing, the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative and Ontario Works for the District of Thunder Bay. Visit the TBDSSAB website for more information at www.tbdssab.ca.

 

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For more information, please contact:                                                                       

Carole Lem, Communications & Engagement Officer, 807-766-4219, media@tbdssab.ca

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Download: REL TBDSSAB receives $1.84m via SSRF Phase 2 (pdf)