The Chatham and Windsor areas are getting much-needed help from the province to help protect the health and safety of their most vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Local MPP Rick Nicholls announced $2.2 million for Chatham-Kent and an additional $3.7 million for Windsor and Essex County to be used by homeless shelters, food banks, emergency services, charities, and non-profits to deliver critical social services. The money will also be spent to hire extra staff, buy more personal protective equipment, and to find ways to promote social distancing and self-isolation.
How the funding will be spent will be determined by the departments responsible for homelessness and the vulnerable in each municipality to give those people in the community the support they need.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said the province is acting quickly to support those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless during this unprecedented time. He said the funding is going straight to communities who know best what the immediate needs are on the ground.
“I appreciate how quickly the ministry is responding to the needs of these communities," said Nicholls. "During this critical time of dealing with COVID 19, it is imperative that those identified as most vulnerable have the support they so desperately need."
Local service managers and Indigenous program administrators all across Ontario are also getting an additional $148 million to give them the flexibility to expand the key services they already offer and meet their local needs for such things as emergency loans for people having a hard time paying rent.
"It is up to communities to respond to local needs,” added Nicholls.
This money is part of Ontario’s $200 million services relief funding to help protect the province's most vulnerable people.