Midhurst/March 18, 2024 – The County of Simcoe and the Town of New Tecumseth are collaborating to prevent homelessness while supporting residents across the region. The County released its 10-point homelessness prevention strategy in June 2023, creating greater support for data-driven and effective initiatives.
The County’s 10-point homelessness prevention strategy makes affordable housing even more attainable by increasing supply, creating “deep rent subsidies,” increasing eviction prevention services and improving available shelter. It commits the County to find new housing opportunities, enhancing community shelter services and standards, and improving safety and well-being throughout the community.
The 10-point plan:
- Makes affordable housing more attainable
- Creates new supportive housing programs
- Creates peace of mind when using services
- Increases housing availability in current programs
- Creates easier ways to access services through a centralized intake system
- Enhances community shelters’ services and standards with increased support
- Increases eviction protection services and access to housing for families
- Improves shelter on the housing continuum, addressing repairs and maintenance needs
- Finds new opportunities with attention to potential capital and operating opportunities
Investing in South Simcoe
While this is a regional plan, the County continues to make strategic investments in communities across the Simcoe County to address local needs. In New Tecumseth and South Simcoe:
Supportive Housing: The County is currently working toward a potential Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) in Alliston. The County is currently evaluating locations for an innovative Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) site in the Alliston area to serve South Simcoe. Residents can find information on SRRP by visiting the County’s website at simcoe.ca/SRRP. Once finalized in the coming months, the location and details for this SRRP site will be announced.
Homelessness Support and Outreach Services: The County has increased funding to S.H.I.F.T. by 260% to support a year-round shelter model. It has also invested in outreach services for S.H.I.F.T. with an additional 100% increase in outreach funding.
Affordability: To support housing affordability, the County has implemented the Community Rent Subsidy Program to offer deep subsidies for eligible individuals and families in the community to improve access to housing.
More details about the County’s Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP)
This temporary program is designed to assist individuals, who are facing situational homelessness, to transition into permanent housing within 180 days. People who live in the SRRP units are supported in all aspects of the move-in process, including unit viewings, reviewing leases, furnishing apartments, and establishing connections with on-going follow up supports. During the housing period, residents receive full wrap-around services including mental health, addition, employment supports and other needs will be provided to these low risk individuals impacted by situational homelessness. For more information and project updates, please visit simcoe.ca/SRRP.
About the County’s 10-point homelessness prevention strategy
The plan provides a strong, data-driven strategy to help vulnerable residents and our communities. It includes considerable added investment, enhancements, and support for the unhoused population in our communities. The plan takes a collaborative approach to building up communities, service providers, the business community, and residents. Through this strategy, the County continues to work collaboratively with partners and municipalities to continue to prevent and end chronic homelessness. For further details and ongoing updates to the homelessness prevention plan, visit simcoe.ca/HomelessnessSystem.
About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
Quotes
“County Council is committed to building up our region through stable, long-term, and reliable supports for those who need it across the County. We know that affordability remains a challenge for many in our communities and through these investments in affordability, we remain steadfast in our support for the residents of New Tecumseth and South Simcoe.”
~Warden Basil Clarke, County of Simcoe
“Addressing any concerns around unhoused in New Tecumseth must be a collective effort. As the provider of social and community services, the County of Simcoe is working diligently on rapid rehousing programs throughout the area to help our most vulnerable and provide much needed support. The Town of New Tecumseth continues to collaborate with the County while connecting with our local community groups, partners, and organizations to ensure we are working together to provide any help and services that we can to our community.”
~Mayor Richard Norcross, Town of New Tecumseth