Ontario Helps Create Permanent Emergency Shelter in Windsor
September 15, 2021
WINDSOR — The Ontario government is providing $7.75 million to help create a permanent emergency shelter for women and families experiencing homelessness in Windsor.
“Our government’s Social Services Relief Fund is designed to provide immediate housing and homelessness program relief in communities across Ontario,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By investing $7.75 million in Windsor, we continue to support innovative housing projects to give those in need a safe place to call home and help them get back on their feet.”
The social services relief funding will be used to convert a former hotel into 42 permanent emergency shelter units for women and families experiencing homelessness. Each unit will have a private washroom, following a best practice recommended by public health experts.
“Our government recognizes the importance of supporting projects to ensure vulnerable people in Windsor get access to safe housing during COVID-19 and beyond,” said Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton. “This project in Windsor will help provide much-needed, permanent emergency shelter space that is close to important services like transportation and schools.”
The permanent emergency shelter is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
As highlighted in Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, today’s announcement is part of the province’s Social Services Relief Fund, through which the province has invested over $1 billion during COVID-19 to help municipalities and Indigenous program partners create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable Ontarians, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Quick Facts
- Windsor is receiving $28.3 million in funding through Ontario’s Social Services Relief Fund, which is designed to help municipalities and Indigenous program partners deliver critical services, such as shelters, food banks, funding for rental arrears and housing.
- Ontario has provided $147 million to help expand access to the provincial mental health and addictions system in every community. This funding builds on the province’s $176 million investment in the Roadmap to Wellness, a comprehensive plan to build a fully connected mental health and addictions system across the province. Windsor has received $164,707 as part of this investment.