10 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
County pressing for review of regional social housing formulas By Ron Giofu Essex County Council has not only approved moving ahead with eight affordable housing units in Leamington, but they also want a review of social housing funding formulas for the entire region. County council approved the pre-commitment of $48,000 in its operating budget for the next 20 years support what is known as the Round 2 Rapid Housing Initiative project for The Bridge, which would help fund the creation of four units supported through The Bridge’s youth case management services and another four units to serve priority populations as rental housing. However, while county officials were supportive of the creation of the units in Leamington, they also want much more done
across the entire region. “In the 22 years since the funding formulas for Ontario Works, Child Care and Social Housing were arbitrated, the need for new affordable housing units has increased within the region, however, there has not been any concerted discussions proposing a regional strategy to address affordable housing initiatives and no discussion on how both capital and operating costs of new affordable housing units would be funded,” said director of council and community services/ clerk Mary Birch. “It is the hope that more capital funding opportunities, such as the RHI, will make it possible to develop more affordable housing projects within the region, however, in order to meet tight funding application deadlines in the
Judy Harris Judy Harris passed away peacefully at the Sun Parlor Home in Leamington on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at the age of 75. Beloved wife of Terry Harris for 54 years. Loving mother of Terry Harris (Sharon Taylor) and Jerry Harris (Kathy). Cherished Grandma of Samantha, Marcie, Alexis, Makenzy, Gage and Gavin. Judy loved spending her time being creative making many cards and crafts for her family and friends. As per Judy’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Judy’s life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Reid Funeral Home, 14 Russell St., Leamington (519-326-2631). Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.reidfuneralhome.ca
future and to be finan- support the commencecially prepared to fund ment of discussions of future affordable housing the development of a reoperating costs, it is the gional affordable housing opinion of County Ad- strategy, including fundministration that regional ing responsibilities, and discussions need to com- that county council also mence to derequest the velop a longcity to sup“We’re going port the start term strategy to build and to have to bang of discussions fund capital on the review the table.” and operaof the 1999 — Hilda tional costs social housof additionMacDonald ing cost sharal affordable ing arbitrated housing units agreement throughout “with a view the region. to addressing cost sharIt is also the opinion of ing provisions for new County Administration regional units and regionthat, after twenty-two al housing and homelessyears, it would be appro- ness initiatives.” priate to review the existEssex Deputy Mayor ing funding agreement for Richard Meloche said he regional social housing tried to work with people costs and develop a new facing housing difficulties cost sharing agreement or in his municipality and addendum to the existing while they worked in Esagreement that address- sex, many had to live in es cost sharing principles Windsor. Others had to for new regional units scramble to find a couch and regional housing and to sleep on. homelessness initiatives.” “It was heart-wrenchIn addition to support- ing to see what they were ing the Leamington devel- going through,” he said. opment, county council’s Meloche added “there’s motion further requested no accommodation for Windsor City Council to smaller communities out
in the county.” Warden Gary McNamara stated more housing stock in the county is “overdue” and that he is disappointed that higher levels of government direct funding to urban areas. He pointed out the county’s population is close to that of Windsor but “the county gets left out” with regards to funding sometimes. “It’s almost us versus them,” he said, as he called on Ottawa and Queen’s Park “to look at the bigger picture.” Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald believed the solution may have to “be driven by us” where local municipalities will have to do the work and then go to the city looking for funding. “We’re going to have to bang the table,” said MacDonald. MacDonald recalled being told affordable and social housing is not in the jurisdiction of local municipalities but she said they may have to change as they have to take care of their residents. “It’s not an easy solu-
tion,” added LaSalle Mayor Marc Bondy. “We don’t have enough money in the county (to deal with the issue) and we don’t have enough money in the city.” Doing anything they can to enhance the message and show data on the matter was promoted by Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos, noting there is an immediate need. Jelena Payne, commissioner of community development and health services with the City of Windsor, said “the way the system is designed is for the masses.” She noted that many times, the pathway to housing can be through shelters but that is a temporary solution until housing is found. Debbie Cercone, executive of housing and children’s services with the City of Windsor, said the county’s stock of housing units has risen by 330 in recent years and there is a recognition in Windsor that Essex County is growing.
C-K releases report on woodlot motion CHATHAM-KENT – On April To provide the public with more 26, 2021, Chatham-Kent Municipal time to review the report, it is beCouncil approved a motion that in- ing released a few days in advance troduced a temporary woodlot re- and it can be viewed here: https:// of120 obituary to run movalProof bylaw for days. www.chatham-kent.ca/localgovThe motion also directed ad- ernment/council/meetings/Pagministration to launch a full pub- es/Council-Meetings.aspx August 18, 2021 lic engagement process to seek Given the amount of feedback Southpoint Sunop- already received over the past few the public’s input to develop plus $13 hst $113 months, the municipality is asktions to $100, manage woodlots in = Chatham-Kent. ing that any new deputations be A report from administration Any changes please emailfocused on the recommendations on council’s Woodlot Preservation contained in the report and limited sun@southpointsun.ca Motion is scheduled for the August to two minutes in duration. Formal Thanks. 23, 2021 council meeting immedi- deputations should be emailed diately following the regularly sched- rectly to the Municipal Clerk’s ofuled planning meeting. fice at CKclerk@chatham-kent.ca.
Should individuals feel they have additional information they would like to share, this should be done through the Council Contact Portal at https://portal.chatham-kent.ca/ forms/council/contact. A significant amount of feedback was received and a number of comments were made by respondents from across the political spectrum throughout the engagement process suggesting that additional consultations are warranted and should be pursued before a final decision is made.
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