Financial Matters:
The City of Windsor is the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager on behalf of the Provincial and Federal Governments for the delivery of housing and homelessness programs in Windsor and the County of Essex.
Base Funding for Homelessness Programs
Provincial Funding through Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI)
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) provides funding for the CHPI program that aims to prevent and end homelessness by improving access to adequate, suitable, and affordable housing and homelessness services for people experiencing homelessness, and for people at-risk of homelessness. Service Managers may deliver programs under four broad service categories:
Emergency Shelter Solutions: for people who are experiencing homelessness or in-crisis;
Services & Supports: services such as street outreach, case management, and transportation;
Homelessness Prevention: including rent and utility banks, emergency financial assistance and/or education programs to help people stay in their homes.
Housing with Related Supports: may include long-term housing and transitional housing with supports
The 2020-21 the total gross CHPI budget is $12,271,545, with $10,703,752 funded by the Province and $1,567,793 funded by the municipality (Windsor/Essex). Of the total CHPI operating budget, approximately $1.95 million is allocated for Emergency Shelter Services, approximately $3.83 million is allocated for Homelessness Prevention Services & Supports, and the approximately $6.49 million remaining is allocated towards Housing with Related Supports and administration of the program.
In addition, the City of Windsor has covered operating deficits of approximately $500,000 in both 2018 and 2019 when provincial CHPI funding was insufficient to meet demand. The municipality also provided an additional $500,000 in funding in 2019, which was used to offset a loss of revenue from the Province’s deferral of a CHPI funding increase to 2020 – 2021.
Federal Funding through the Reaching Home
Employment & Social Development Canada (ESDC) also provides funding to address homelessness through the Reaching Home program. The City of Windsor, as the Community Entity, was provided federal funding of $526,527 program funding to invest in supports to prevent and reduce homelessness in 2020-21.
COVID-Funding for Homelessness Programs
As Service Manager and Community Entity for homelessness programs, the City was allocated approximately $5.2 million in Provincial and Federal funding to respond to the additional community needs caused by the pandemic situation.