Hastings County Community and Human Services Department Funding Announcement - Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy – Maggie’s Resource Centre Transitional Housing

PRESS RELEASE
The Corporation of the County of Hastings

Contacts:
Rick Phillips, Warden
Dino Marchiori, Interim Director

June 7, 2022

NEWS

Bancroft, ON - Hastings County is pleased to confirm the funding re-allocation of $500,000 by United Way Simcoe Muskoka and its Regional Advisory Board’s review and approval process to Hastings County and Maggie’s Resource Centre for a transitional housing program in the Town of Bancroft. Funding for Reaching Home Rural and Remote (Ontario) is provided by the Government of Canada.

QUOTES

“Everyone in Canada deserves a safe roof over their heads. That is why supporting organizations such as Maggie’s Resource Centre Transitional Housing is so vital in helping Canada’s most vulnerable – those experiencing homelessness. Through our National Housing Strategy, we will continue to support innovative solutions as we work to keep Canadians safe and housed, now and into the future”.

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

“The funding reallocation to Maggie’s Resource Centre for a transitional housing program to support victims of violence in North Hastings is critically important for residents, especially in remote locations. We are very thankful to Infrastructure Canada and United Way Simcoe Muskoka for the re-allocation of these funds to support individuals and families who have experienced violence, so they are safe and can start the process of moving forward with their lives,” stated Warden Rick Phillips, Hastings County.

“Maggie’s has already established partnerships and connections in the North Hastings area supporting women and children, the next progression in expanding services would be transitional beds that allow these women and children to have stability and receive the supports they require,” said Tanya Mackinnon, Executive Director Maggie’s Resource Centre. “We are excited about this expansion of our services, which will support families as they seek stability.”

“In North Hastings there is no transitional housing dedicated to assisting women and children fleeing domestic violence. The closest domestic violence shelter/transitional housing for women and children is in Belleville (1.5-2 hours away),” stated Mayor Paul Jenkins, Town of Bancroft. “Having this critical support in our community will help people stay connected to friends and family locally who can support them through their transition.”

BACKGROUND

On March 11, 2022 United Way Simcoe Muskoka (UWSM) advised Hastings County Community and Human Services staff that the revised joint application for capital funds to Reaching Home Rural and Remote for Maggie’s Resource Centre was approved. This funding supports the creation of transitional housing units for victims of family violence, which currently does not exist in North Hastings.

As a result of an unsuccessful procurement process to establish shelter beds in North Hastings and recognizing the Community and Human Services Committee’s focus on solutions for homelessness, staff sought approval to be able to submit a new application to re-direct the approved funding to support to Maggie’s Resource Centre in Bancroft in their current efforts to create transitional family units for women and children who are victims of violence. Currently there are no emergency or transitional supports for victims of family violence in North Hastings.

For more information contact:

Rick Phillips, Warden
(613) 966-1311

or

Dino Marchiori, Interim Director
(613) 966-1311 x 2334
marchiorid@hastingscounty.com