The Provincial Government is committing $200 million to a social services relief fund in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
Minister of Community and Social Services Todd Smith says the money will “help protect the health and safety of the province’s most vulnerable people” during the pandemic.
Smith says $148 million of that will go right to local social service providers.
Smith adds the rest the money will be used to help people who don’t qualify for employment insurance at the federal level, to get some immediate financial help.
The plan also includes some discretionary funding for people already on Ontario Works or ODSP to help with the cost of cleaning supplies, which they would get by working with local case workers.
It will also allow case workers to meet with clients over the phone, or online, to help with social distancing.
