LONDON, ONT.—The Ontario government has announced it plans to spend $1.1 billion to upgrade the province’s housing programs and support homeless populations in 2022-23.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark also announced on Aug. 18 additional funding under the Social Services Relief Fund for a total support to communities of $1 billion in 2020-2021.
The announcements were made at the virtual 2021 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference held this week.
Clark said Ontario will also allocate $57 million to launch a third intake of the Municipal Modernization Program and Audit and Accountability Fund. The funding is intended to help municipalities identify and implement projects that modernize, digitize and improve local services, stated a release.
In addition, the Ontario government will maintain the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) at $500 million, as well as the overall structure of the program, for 2022. The OMPF provides unconditional funding to 389 municipalities across the province that can be used to support local priorities.
“Municipalities deliver many of the services that people and businesses rely on most. We serve Ontario’s residents best when our two orders of government can meet, solve challenges and create opportunities to make Ontario’s diverse communities stronger,” said AMO president Graydon Smith, mayor of Bracebridge.
I and others have been a n homeless shelters without proper food or medical supplies. Many sick and injured workers end up homeless. I do not drink alcohol or smoke or use drugs and have been homeless for 7 years. Many people are homeless because of private insurance companies and lack of gov support.