SSRF Phase 2 builds on the support being delivered as part of the COVID-19 Action Plan to Protect Vulnerable Ontarians and will help Ontario safely restart its economy and become more resilient to future waves of COVID-19, which are key priorities of the federal funding under the Safe Restart Agreement.
The objectives for SSRF Phase 2 as are follows:
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Mitigate ongoing risk for vulnerable people, especially in congregate care settings:
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Where appropriate, support changes to the physical design of congregate spaces, permit physical distancing and other modifications based on public health guidance; and
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Provide ongoing services and supports to address immediate pandemic needs of vulnerable people.
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Encourage longer-term housing-based solutions to homelessness post-COVID-19:
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Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators are encouraged to use funding in ways that create longer-term housing solutions, move towards client service models that are innovative, and support client and organizational readiness for potential future outbreaks or emergencies.
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Enhance rent assistance provided to households in rent arrears due to COVID-19:
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Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators are encouraged to consider using funding to support renter households who may be in rental arrears and at a high risk of becoming homeless.
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MMAH will again be administering this investment to Service Managers through distinct components of the existing Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) Service Agreement.
1.1 Allocations
For SSRF Phase 2, all Service Managers will be provided with an initial planning allocation.
Prior to funds being flowed and allocations confirmed, Service Managers will be required to submit a business case to demonstrate how their initial planning allocations will be used to meet the objectives of the program.
The $362 million in new funding is being allocated to Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators as follows: