GUELPH/WELLINGTON – The County of Wellington announced it received one-time funding late last year from Infrastructure Canada to help people find a more stable place to stay during the winter.
A Thursday press release from the county said it received $633,318 from Infrastructure Canada under “Reaching Home.”
“Recognizing that the winter weather presents additional risks to people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered areas and outdoors, Infrastructure Canada made one-time top-up funding available to communities,” the release stated. “This additional funding aims to help people find a safer and more stable place to stay and to respond to the increased demand for services and supports during winter 2023-2024.”
This funding can be used to help people experiencing homelessness including temporarily expanding shelter spaces, time-limited rent assistance, tangible basic needs supplies, storage of belongings for up to three months, travel costs, disability supports, increasing service availability and purchasing cold weather supplies for those who are unsheltered.
This funding is to be used by April 30, 2024.
Social services committee chair David Anderson said in the release housing staff will bring a report forward to the March meeting on details on how the funding is being used.
