The Ontario government is providing more money to support homelessness prevention programming across Parry Sound-Muskoka. The Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (PSDSSAB) and District of Muskoka are receiving increases of $657,600 and $761,600 respectively in 2023-2024. This represents a 73% and 58% increase in annual funding, bringing Parry Sound’s annual total to $1,557,400 and Muskoka’s to $2,068,200.
“This funding increase represents our government’s serious commitment to providing our municipal partners with the resources they need to provide supportive housing services to our most vulnerable residents,” said Graydon Smith, MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka. “This funding will go a long way in helping more people access critical housing support services.”
The Ontario government is investing an additional $202 million annually in the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supporting Housing Program, bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment in these programs to close to $700 million.
The additional $202 million represents a 40 per cent increase in funding by the government. Under the $202 million, $190.5 million each year will be allocated to the Homelessness Prevention Program, which gives Ontario’s 47 Service Managers greater flexibility to allocate funding and make better use of existing resources to focus on delivering support services.
The remaining $11.5 million each year will be invested in the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, which provides Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate long-term housing solutions and support services to Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
“We’re very pleased the government has responded to the call by municipalities for urgent funding for homelessness services,” said District of Muskoka Chair, Jeff Lehman. “This funding will allow us to provide services to Muskoka’s most vulnerable residents at a time when it is needed more than ever.”
“Over the last two years, our DSSAB has strengthened its advocacy efforts to encourage all levels of government to invest in programs and services that make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve,” said Rick Zanussi, District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board Chair. “Today’s announcement of an additional $657,600 for homelessness initiatives is a great start, and we will continue to be a strong advocate for the needs of this community.”
This new funding builds on the government’s investment of nearly $4.4 billion over the past three years to grow and enhance community and supportive housing, respond to COVID-19 and help address the needs of vulnerable people.