Two programs–the Provincial Homelessness Initiative Fund and the National Child Benefit Strategy–have been adapted to the needs of local families and approved by the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
The programs, designed to fill in the gaps between existing social services, had to be formatted to suit local needs. Last Thursday, DSSAB approved plans outlining where provincially-allocated funds would be spent.
The $109,000 in funding granted through the Provincial Homelessness Initiative Fund will be used to initiate supportive programs as well as go into reserves for families in emergency situations.
“They have to have exhausted all other resources to qualify for it,” noted DSSAB CAO Donna Dittaro.
This year, DSSAB has divided the funding into five different categories, including $20,000 for the Salvation Army Food Bank in Fort Frances, $10,000 for St. George’s Anglican Church Food Cupboard in Emo, $10,000 for Our Lady of Good Counsel Food Cupboard in Rainy River, and $9,000 for the program’s human resources.
The other $60,000 will be set aside in a Prevention of Homelessness Fund for emergency situations affecting families who have no alternative solutions available to them.
The money will be used prevent anyone who does not qualify for Ontario Works or other social assistance from being left on the street or endangered in situations such as evictions, utilities being shut off in mid-winter, or fires.
It also will help eligible individuals and families to secure permanent housing by assisting with first and last rent payments, and essential furniture and supplies.
“I feel pretty good about this initiative,” Dittaro enthused.
Meanwhile, DSSAB also approved a local plan for the National Child Benefit Strategy through which it has been allocated $53,822.
Half of those funds will be used to provide school breakfast programs and to supplement dental care and early childhood education costs. The rest will go towards sending children from under-privileged families to the D.A.R.E. Camp and other recreational and school activities.
This is the first year DSSAB has had the chance to set up an annual plan for either program.
“We just started in the latter part of last year,” noted Shelley Shute, director of Ontario Works and Child Care, who helped compile the information used to decide where funds were most needed.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
