A newly announced annualized fund will help support those struggling with homelessness in Grey County.
The funding from Ontario Health will support the CMHA Grey Bruce's 14th Street Transitional Supportive Housing site's comprehensive mental health and addiction supports which can now be offered 24/7.
Stephen Musehl, CMHA Grey Bruce CEO, says the 386 14th Street site in Owen Sound was purchased and renovated for them by Grey County in 2022, and it supports people struggling with homelessness.
"Anywhere from 30 days, to 356 days, to whatever the individual needs. So really the focus is on getting people that 24/7 support and resources not only to help their transitional housing but to help their needs for ongoing and continued success," Musehl said.
Musehl shares that thanks to the announced $853,600 annually to help support 24/7 employee support at the home, the increased staff support will be huge for the people they help. He says the staff provide numerous avenues of care.
"We have a lot of life enrichment workers that will now be there 24/7 to help with social, recreational and educational programming, and support people in their hierarchy of needs. So finding them an income stream, health resources. We're also supplementing it with a lot of case management and peer support," Musehl detailed. "Primary care and tele-medicine programs, addiction counselling, an ID clinic to make sure people have the necessary identification documents so they can get all the support they're entitled to."
The 14th Street Transitional Housing site, as Musehl shares, is the first of its kind in the area. The building includes 12 apartment units and provides "high-acuity transitional housing support for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use issues who are homeless or at risk of homelessness," according to a press release from CMHA Grey Bruce.
Ultimately, Musehl says the site is about ensuring the most vulnerable people in the community have a way to get back on their feet again.
"Really that transition cycle from where people are feeling a state of despair, a state of helplessness, and supporting them back into transitional housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, and to help them meet all the needs that they have," added Musehl.
The CMHA Grey Bruce is always in need of new volunteers for programming support and fundraising, and are always accepting donations to help support their programs, as well. All that information, including information on 14th Street Transitional Housing site, can be found at https://greybruce.cmha.ca/.
The following supports are available at the 14th Street Transitional Housing site location:
-Case Management: Coordination, advocacy, and specialized support towards achieving personal recovery goals that improve mental health and wellbeing.
-Life Enrichment: Social, recreational, and educational programming to create community, reduce isolation and enhance life skills.
-Peer support: Individual and group support, with courses on living independently and maintaining successful tenancies.
-Primary Care Telemedicine Program: Comprehensive health assessments, chronic disease management, medication monitoring, immunization, physical exams and more.
-Addiction counselling: Individual counselling for substance use concerns, specialized counselling for concurrent disorders and pregnant or parenting individuals with substance use issues.
-ID clinic: Assistance in replacing or obtaining necessary identification documents.
"The 14th Street program will make a profound difference in the lives of many individuals,” said CMHA Grey Bruce director of client services Scott McKay. “By offering continuous support and resources, we can help clients transition from crisis to stability, ultimately improving their overall well-being and reducing the strain on emergency services."
“Grey County is proud to partner with CMHA on this initiative to provide vital supportive housing in Owen Sound,” added Anne Marie Shaw, Director of Community Services with Grey County. “With stable funding secured from Ontario Health and the support of the CMHA Grey Bruce, these units are operating at their full potential, supporting clients on their journey towards stable housing.”
“Thank you to CMHA Grey-Bruce, Grey County and Ontario Health for supporting the 14th Street Transitional Housing Program,” said MPP Rick Byers. “This is a very important initiative that will make a big difference in our community.”
