Financial Support for Community Agencies Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Transition to Recovery

Aug 18th, 2020
By rwhelan

PRESS RELEASE

County of Dufferin, 55 Zina Street, Orangeville, ON L9W 1E5

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 1:00 pm

 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY AGENCIES RELATED TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND TRANSITION TO RECOVERY

To all our community partners, organizations, non-profit agencies and to those who support the most vulnerable in our community, we would like to hear from you as to how the County of Dufferin may financially assist you in order for you to continue to offer the best support to our community, as we deal with the COVID-19 transition to recovery.

On August 12, 2020, the federal and provincial governments announced, the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) Phase 2.  SSRF Phase 2  will provide $362 million in provincial and federal funding (federal funding through the Safe Restart Agreement) to help a diverse range of vulnerable people, create longer-term housing solutions for people in need, and ensure that the housing and homelessness sector has the tools and support that they need to safely and successfully transition to recovery.

The objectives for SSRF Phase 2 include:

  • Mitigate ongoing risk for vulnerable people, especially in congregate care settings;
  • Encourage longer-term housing-based solutions to homelessness post-COVID-19; and
  • Enhance rent assistance provided to households in rent arrears due to COVID-19.

SSRF Phase 2 has two components, operating and capital.

The eligible operating expenses include but are not limited to:

  • Building homeless shelter capacity;
  • Use of motels or hotels as isolation centers or to support social distancing;
  • Rental assistance such as funding for rent arrears and short-term housing allowances
  • Transportation costs;
  • Food and supplies;
  • Enhanced cleaning services;
  • Non-medical staffing requirements (e.g., enhanced outreach services);
  • Personal protective equipment; and
  • Minor retrofits, alterations and repairs under $50,000 that do not extend the useful life of pre-existing buildings or assets.

Capital funding would enable the acquisition of new, or modifications to existing facilities such as emergency shelters, supportive housing, transitional housing, and related facilities.  The objectives under this component, are:

  • To provide longer-term housing-based solutions to homelessness post-COVID-19 outbreak;
  • To better address need and to encourage movement toward client service models that are innovative, and seek to support client and organizational readiness in preparation for potential future outbreaks or emergencies; and
  • To change the physical design of congregate care settings such as emergency shelters, to permit elements such as physical distancing and self-contained bedrooms and washrooms.

If you are providing new or enhanced support or service(s) for vulnerable persons in Dufferin County as a result of COVID-19 in any of the areas above we would ask that you submit your business case by Friday, August 28th, 2020.

Please send your request to the attention of Carol Barber, Program Manager Housing Services, cbarber@dufferincounty.ca  For any questions, call 519-941-6991, ext. 2020

Please note that submission of a business case does not guarantee funding assistance in part or in full.

Click here to download a copy of the press release.