$3.1 million is flowing from the province to the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB).
The money is to help deliver critical services, create longer-term housing solutions and keep vulnerable people safe.
Mark King, DNSSAB Chair, says it’s welcome news.
“This money will be used to help supplement the operation of not only the low-barrier shelter but Gateway House One and Gateway House Two. Those are really welcome dollars that kind of take the stress off the DNSSAB Board,” he says.
King says construction on Gateway House One on Chippewa Street has been completed and will be operating soon by the Crisis Centre, although he says there are staffing level issues that are being worked on.
Gateway House Two is under construction.
“That’s about 16 units and that process is designed to be unsupervised. There’s no support system on that side of the building. He says. “Gateway House One is supervised and it’s designed to support people that come out of the low-barrier shelter.”
King also says they’re getting more money than others received.
“I was quite surprised at the amount of $3.1 (million). That was substantially more than a number of other communities in northern Ontario have received,” he says.
Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, says the province is committed to ensuring municipalities have the resources they need to keep their communities safe.
“Today’s funding will help our local DSSAB deliver critical services, support vulnerable people, and unlock affordable housing in our community.”
Fedeli says the announcement is part of the province’s additional $307 million investment to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners respond to COVID-19.
This investment builds upon the $765 million dollars of Social Services Relief Funding (SSRF) announced in 2020- 2021, for total support to communities of over $1 billion.