News

$3 Million in Increased Funding for Local Homelessness Prevention

Province’s additional investment will help people at risk or experiencing homelessness

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing an additional $202 million annually in the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) and Indigenous Supporting Housing Program, bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment in these programs close to $700 million. The additional funding will help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and support community organizations delivering supportive housing. This includes an additional $3 million for District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) for the 2023-24 year. DNSSAB’s total HPP funding for the 2023-24 year is $5.3 million.

“Supportive housing provides people in need with a roof over their heads. It also connects them with services that provide a hand up to improve their circumstances, including mental health supports,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “Our government heard DNSSAB’s concerns, and we are addressing their valuable feedback to improve the local supportive housing system with a 127% increase in funding.”

“The funding provided to the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) through the Homelessness Prevention Program will allow the DNSSAB to initiate long-term planning for the priorities identified in the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, the Homelessness Action Plan, and the District’s Built for Zero Action Plan, while providing critical stabilization of operational funding for the unique supportive housing model that has been developed at Northern Pines.” – Mark King, Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.

The additional funding, announced in the 2023 Budget, represents a 40% increase across the province in funding by the government to support the most vulnerable by providing supportive housing and homelessness prevention services. Under the $202 million, $190.5 million each year will be allocated to the HPP, which gives Ontario’s 47 Service Managers greater flexibility to allocate funding and make better use of existing resources to focus on delivering supports.

The remaining $11.5 million each year will be invested in the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program (ISHP), which provides Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate long-term housing solutions and support services to Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The increased funding is a result of a revised funding model that better reflects the current needs of individuals who are facing homelessness across Ontario. Funding dollars are being increased to address increased needs, particularly during a time of rising inflation, and to help ensure that no service manager receives a decrease in funding compared to 2022-23 as a result of the transition to the new model.

The changes also address the recommendation in the Auditor General’s 2021 value-for-money audit on homelessness, which called for a better funding model for homelessness programs that would target areas where funding is most needed.

In addition to reducing costs in other sectors, supportive housing provides people in Ontario with an opportunity to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Ontario will continue to support the most vulnerable by providing supportive housing and homelessness prevention services to help those most in need.

QUICK FACTS

• In order to access HPP funding, Service Managers must have in place a comprehensive and up-to-date By-Name List of people experiencing homelessness, along with information about their needs. This is to ensure that Service Managers have the up-to-date information they need from individuals experiencing homelessness to help connect people the right housing and supports as soon as they are available.
• Through the Community Housing Renewal Strategy, response to COVID-19 and homelessness initiatives, over the past three years Ontario invested nearly $4.4 billion for community and supportive housing while addressing homelessness and the impacts of the pandemic for vulnerable Ontarians.
• In 2022, the government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act, which takes bold action to address the housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes by 2031. The plan also has measures to reduce municipal charges for housing providers looking to build non-profit and affordable housing for vulnerable Ontarians.