Ontario Creating Supportive Housing in Barrie
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
2022-09-27 09:00:00

Barrie — The Ontario government is providing more than $2.5 million to help create 14 units in Barrie to support people in need.

The Tiffin Street Supportive Housing Project is located at 77 Tiffin Street in Barrie, Ontario. This multi-residential, three-story building, sponsored by the County of Simcoe, is currently under construction and will consist of 14 units to support people with mental health and addiction issues, persons with disabilities, as well as those experiencing homelessness in the City of Barrie. The building will have an elevator which will give residents with physical disabilities freedom of access and mobility. Residents will also be close to amenities such as public transportation, parks and grocery stores.

“Our government’s policies have delivered historic results in getting more homes built faster and complement our nearly $4.4 billion investments in community and supportive housing over the past three years. We are also continuing to work to expand access to mental health and addictions support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our government's Social Services Relief Fund is providing immediate housing and homelessness relief in communities across Ontario,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Community and supportive housing is a critical component of our commitment to build 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years, which will ensure that all Ontarians, especially our most vulnerable, have a home that meets their needs and budget.”

The Ontario government is also investing an additional $25 million annually in our new Homelessness Prevention Program. This new program will simplify and streamline operations so municipal service managers can spend less time on paperwork and more time working with their clients to help find housing and other supports and help those at-risk of homelessness stay in their homes. The additional funding brings Ontario’s total yearly investment in the program to close to $464 million.

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, which has provided over $1.2 billion of support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.

QUOTES

“People need housing, and they need it now,” said MPP Andrea Khanjin. “The housing shortage affects us all and we need to support the most vulnerable in our communities. I will keep advocating for funding and policies that lead to more housing for everyone in Barrie-Innisfil, and I’m so glad to see this critical investment to address an urgent need."

“Accessible and affordable housing has become one of the most important issues of our time, and our provincial government has continued to step up to the plate, addressing this issue in our local communities,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte. “Projects like the Tiffin Supportive Housing Unit help us combat the housing crisis in the communities where people wish to live. By building projects like the Tiffin Supportive Housing Unit, it is possible for people to continue to live with dignity where they choose.”

“The County of Simcoe is incredibly pleased with the announcement of this new build at 77 Tiffin Street addressing supportive housing needs within our community. Our 10-year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy identifies the need within our community for more supportive housing to assist with the unique challenges of those who have experienced chronic homelessness. Today’s commitment by the Government of Ontario, combined with the County’s investment in this project, goes a long way toward addressing those needs. County Council would like to express our most sincere thanks to Minister Clark for continuing to ensure that those in our community have safe, warm places to call ‘home’.” - Warden George Cornell, County of Simcoe