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16 bs 5 Oakville Beaver | Thursday, April 13, 2023 insidehalton.com REGION COMMISSIONER EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED’ WITH FUNDING STATUS Continued from page 3 is the flatlining homeless- ness prevention funding from the province — which stays at around $9.9 milli for the coming year despite inflationary and pandem- ic-related cost increases — ane the. climination of the ial Social Services Relief und (SSRF). This amounts to a $4.6- million decrease in operat- ing funding, which would limit the region's ability to appointed," said Alex Sar- chuk, Halton Region's commissioner of social and community services, at the. March 22 regional council meeting. While alot of the SSRF creasing staffing in high- risk congregate environ- ments to supportive hous- ing and mental health support — Sarchuk said the jneoing impacts of VI m homelessness prevention and emergen- cy shelter programs are [0] = a < 9 Q [a] z Ss Permanent.” those who vessel concern at the meet- was Halton Hills Coun. Jane Fogal, who noted: "It's unbelievable that our fund- ing would have been cut at this time when we detintiely need it." Burlington Mayor Mari- anne Meed Ward said the crisis has been in the mal ing for decades, but now is the * "second best time" to deal wi ith the issue, while ¢ for a comprehen. sive approach to the situa- tion. "We are feeling it obvi- ously in the streets and parks and places of our communities and these people whose lives are anes disrupted,” she said during the discus- sion. "We're not going to stop talking about this and raising the alarm bells because this is the lives of our community that are at stake." "GOOD FIRST STEP' mail, a spokes- person for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said the Ontario government is investing an additional $202 million “(Investments) will go a long way over the next three years to start turning around the crisis we are facing in our cities and neighbourhoods with © addictions, homelessness, and mental health.” annually in the 2023 bud- get for the Homeressness Prevention (HPP) and indisnone Supportive Housing Pro- gram to help more people experiencing homeless- ness find safe housing. “The Region of Halton is expected to receive a substantial increase in their allotment moving forward as a result of these additional invest- ments. Details on the spe- cific service manager allo- cations will be communi- cated in the near future,” part of the email reads. “The HPP gives service managers greater flexibil- ity to allocate funding and make better use of exist- Pebble Concrete + Stamped Concrete (ess 3133 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Milton, ON L9E 0J7 eT elalaak-lat-varek-xer-| ek-mexe) an) BAEUMLER - Oakville Mayor Rob Burton ing resources to focus on essing, reducing and preventing homelessness in their communities. For io provide rent sup- plements, support the op- eration of homeless shel- ters and build new sup- porti idget, introduced last month, also includes $205 million om three health and aaaictions| pio. gral Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said ina statement that the Investments will goa long way over th: ing around the crisis we are facing in our cities and neighbourhoods with a dictions, homelessness, andt rental health." oun. Colin Best ae is also president f the has more hidden home- lessness with a large “couch- suring’ Por tion, said Danielli. When it comes to eras- ing the stigma around f Mu- nicipalities of Ontario, e fun inding commit- ments. are "a good first step. ‘AS part of its ongoing advocacy, the association is hosting a symposium on May 3 and 4 to offer per- spectives on causes of homelessness, housing, insufficient re- sponses to mental health anda addiction challenges. need to get every- pods on board," he said of the need for all parties to work together. REMOVING STIGMA As executive director of Milton Tran: ing, which rods a Bos. year transitional housing program with wrap- around services, Danielli receives calls every day from people across the GTA who need a safe place to live. Halton, particularly, ple ned to ered that, it can happen to it could be a neighbour I los- someone suddenly not being able to aes their increased mo! e. mee can't predict the fu- ture. So we need to plan as best we can in the present. ness, root causes of home- lessness and solutions fr homelessness,” she ‘And we all play a partin in that STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With Halton fac- ing a homelessness pre- vention funding shortfall, we wanted to examine the concerns raised regarding the issue and what's being done to address it. H ‘SCAN THIS CODE for more local news. SHOP LOCAL. SAVE LOCAL + Support the local businesses that support your local newspaper. ADVERTISE Canad