Ontario increasing support for homelessness prevention in Oxford

WOODSTOCK — The Ontario government is investing an additional $202 million annually in the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment in these programs to 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 $2,922,000 for Oxford, which is a funding increase of $1,215,700 over the 2022-23 allocation.

“This much-needed funding increase will help Oxford provide more supports for the most vulnerable in our community,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford. “More supportive housing and homelessness prevention services can help those at risk live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

The additional funding, announced in the 2023 Budget, represents a 40 per cent increase 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 Homelessness Prevention Program (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.

“We know Ontario’s housing supply crisis impacts all Ontarians, no matter their background or budget,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “That’s why we’ve increased funding for our homelessness prevention programs by more than 40 per cent. These measures complement the bold and transformational change we are implementing to tackle the housing supply crisis and get more homes built faster across Ontario.”

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.