The Grace Inn Shelter in Belleville is one step closer to obtaining some funding but a city councillor wants to see changes in the way these funding allocations are handled.
The issue was raised during a special meeting of the Community and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.
It involved the proposal to allocate $559,250 to the Grace Inn emergency shelter.
The funds had been designated for a modular home project in Bancroft which has been cancelled.
Director Suzanne Ritchie Raymond told the committee the issue is that the provincial funding is based on old numbers and does not meet current needs.
“There is no ongoing sustainable funding stream. The provincial government provides us with the Community Homeless and Prevention Initiative, the CHIPPY. Those programs were created back in 2012 and the funding model that has been used is out of date.”
Raymond added, “Essentially it’s going to the Grace Inn organization. We’re looking to subsidize and support the sheltering program which is the primary need. As indicated they are indicating a shortfall of $435,000 so some of the funds can assist with the shortfall for the transitional program which is the six transitional units that will open shortly and will allow for individuals to move out of the shelter and move another step closer to more permanent housing and free up more beds at the Grace Inn Shelter.”
Belleville Councillor Bill Sandison indicated there needs to be long-term planning right in the budget process.
“Consider maybe entering into a relationship with Grace Inn from Hastings County that we lease the properties and take over management of the homeless shelters and transitional housing. Not only that currently exist and there’s only a couple, but as we grow that across the entire region.”
Councillor Terry Cassidy said, “Clearly when I look at the budget as it’s been presented around the Grace Inn Shelter for 2021 and now going forward into ’22, I’m just uh. As it’s grown considerably in terms of both the number of people that need it and that’s the sad thing but the fact that we’re providing for it is a great thing and that we’re also providing those two other things, the medical unit and the transition housing I think that’s really exemplary.
“It suggests to me hopefully in our budget as it comes forward at our next meeting it’ll have some permanent lines of funding from somewhere that will be sustainable because this is a one-time funding that’s kind of bailing them out.”
The committee is recommending the funding be approved.
That recommendation goes to county council when it meets later this month.
