Hastings County CAO Jim Pine. (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
The Hastings-Quinte social services department is holding the line with its 2017 budget.
The $73.2 million budget is just under last year’s total.
Hastings County CAO Jim Pine says the slight increase in the homelessness area reflects a move to avoid people going homeless, in cases such as the recent shutdown of the Bel Marine Retirement Residence in Belleville.
He says the province is reviewing the delivery of children’s services and this might lead to more work for the local department.
Pine says the province will have taken over the full cost of the Ontario Works benefits program by next year.
He says this will leave more money to be spent locally on new housing units and housing repairs.
