Housing & Homelessness Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
| (initial allocation, additional funding is expected) | of Apr 24 to Aug 13, 2020. Specific guidelines issued for this program. The City of Windsor, as Service Manager, will have to determine eligibility and administer this program. |
J. Tanner provides highlights of the programs that have been or are being supported by these COVID-specific funding allocations are listed below.
Increased funding for three emergency shelters (Welcome Centre, Salvation Army and Downtown Mission) and 22 Housing with Supports Homes in Windsor and Essex County to allow them to purchase PPE, ensure social distancing, hire additional staff, enhance cleaning protocols, adjust to meal services, increase security and transportation for staff during the Transit Windsor service suspension.
Funding for two daytime programs, one at the Downtown Mission and the other at Windsor Water World, operated by the City, using redeployed City staff.
Implementation of COVID Isolation & Recovery Centres (IRCs) to provide a safe place for people who need to self-isolate while they await COVID test results or recover from the virus. Initially, the IRCs were set up to support people experiencing homelessness, but this is currently being expanded to residents of Housing with Supports Homes, if they cannot safely isolate in place and agri-sector workers (i.e. migrant workers)
The first IRC was set up at a small motel with 29 rooms and operated from Apr 1 to May 20, 2020. The City leased the entire motel and provided management oversite, the Welcome Centre provided onsite service delivery, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) conducted on-site COVID testing and monitoring of symptoms, and the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC) provided virtual medical assessments and monitoring.
The second IRC is set up in a larger hotel with 42 rooms, which began operations on May 1 and will continue operations until July 31, 2020. The City has leased the entire hotel and it operates much like the first IRC, but with the addition of on-site 24/7 nursing support from Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH).
Depending on the needs of the community, we may move to a smaller IRC with 10 – 15 rooms after July 31. Various locations are being explored and advocacy is being done to ensure the health sector continues to partner in the service delivery.
Contribution to the Families to Families gift card / food bank program.
Despite the substantial levels of funding provided by upper levels of government, if the need continues and the above-mentioned programs remain in place as is, a deficit of $1.2 million is projected by the end of 2020.