Housing Services will continue to promote early intervention and prevention approaches such as diversion and the Rent Assistance program in order to ensure that emergency shelter is used as a last resort.

As a component of the Windsor Essex Housing Connections program, staff from Housing Information Services are situated in the shelters to support their clients with housing searches. The City of Windsor implemented Windsor Essex Housing Connections, the region’s Housing First program in 2015.

Currently, Windsor Essex Housing Connections is a collaboration between Family Services Windsor-Essex, Housing Information Services, South Essex Community Council, and Habitat for Humanity. The program provides homelessness street outreach, clinical and housing supports to households experiencing chronic homelessness. Windsor Essex Housing Connections also works in partnership with Can Am Indian Friendship Centre to provide culturally appropriate services and housing supports for Indigenous Peoples experiencing homelessness throughout Windsor Essex. To date the City, with community partners, have housed over 1,200 households across Windsor and Essex.

Further, Administration agrees with the Consultant regarding standards, and accurate tracking and data. We will work to implement performance metrics, outcomes and performance measurement methodologies that will be reflected within the Service Agreements.

Emergency shelters are but one component of a housing and homelessness system. Recommendations from the consultant which may require capital investment will require further analysis that will be brought to Council for direction.

Risk Analysis:

There is a significant risk to the health and safety of residents when they cannot access emergency shelter services or get supports needed to obtain and retain permanent housing. Studies show that persons experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of trauma, exploitation, chronic health conditions and more frequently access the emergency room and interact with law enforcement.

Those in shelter are also vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and other communicable diseases and as a result, communities are now looking to making necessary adjustments to ensure the health of those experiencing homelessness.

Although shelter demand has decreased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it is anticipated to increase again after the moratorium on evictions ends and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is no longer available.