Huron County will begin a new Bridge Housing and Stability program this November, after some hesitation from council on the revised cost of launching year-round shelter.
CMHA Huron Perth requested extending the proposed contract by two months, to allow contract staff to receive group health benefits, a move that they say will enhance the ability to recruit and retain qualified workers.
The program will now run from November 1, until the end of 2025. Staff estimate the extension will increase the County's levy by around $71,000 to just under $500,000.
Some members of council, like Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp, balked at the increased costs, suggesting that they try and upload the costs to higher levels of government rather than take it from local taxpayers.
Huron East Mayor Bernie McLellan agreed.
"We do need to do something at the moment, but Coun. Klopp is a hundred per cent correct, if we start picking up the tab on all these things, the province has a very good history over the last number of years of recognizing those municipalities that are picking up those tabs and then not stepping up when they're supposed to, and boy the Health Unit has a lot of examples of that," he said. "I can go along with this one, but we really need to have a little more notice and discussion of where we want to go with the taxpayers dollars."
Warden Glen McNeil concluded that Huron County is looked upon to take action in the housing crisis and this program intends to help with that.
There was also a discussion around the rent subsidy program that would be funded by shelter allowances. Staff said that at a maximum, it could generate around $93,000 per year if all units are fully occupied and paid for.
Members of council questioned where the residents income would come from if they're not part of the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Barbara Hall, Director of Social and Property Services says their team works to make sure everyone in the program has money coming in.
"Our stability team works with every individual to ensure that they do have an income," she said. "They do document readiness, so for example, if they don't have a birth certificate and they can't apply for a service, the stability teams helps them apply, so that there will always be an income source of some kind."
The service agreement was ultimately approved as presented, by an 8-7 margin.
