Proposed 2021 social services budget hike

The Hastings County committee that provides social housing and employment benefits has set a 2021 budget increase over last year.

The Community and Human Services committee held its 2021 budget meeting on Wednesday.

Staff presented a budget of 83.3 million, ..a cost of 18.7 million to the municipalities of Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West.

This is a 3.29% increase over last year.

Director Erin Rivers told the committee that the department had received both federal and provincial funding to help cover enhanced COVID costs.

She comments on the year.

“The creation of a six-bed housing unit, the warming centre, minor capital repairs, the provision for human services and security for the warming centre and also some minor capital repairs to assist our agencies meeting new public health requirements.”

Rivers outlined a need for increased housing security at the housing units.

“In November there was a need for increasing patrols to 800. There was an increase of the patrols contract in February which became effective in March. At the height of the pandemic they were conducting 1,200 patrols a month.”

Rivers notes money has been included this year to enhance security at social services housing.

“With this added security measure we hope that the patrols will discourage people from committing crimes and may help to identify those individuals who commit crimes on our property.”

The budget includes money for capital projects on the more than 1,400 housing units, most of which are 40 years old.

The budg4t is supported by Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West.

It goes to Hastings Count Council later this month for final approval

Some of the expenses listed in the budget include:

Ontario Works – $4,029,250

-Children’s Services Program – $1,409,440

-Non-Profit Housing Expenses – $3,225,100

-Capital Projects – $2.7 million

-Replace smoke detectors – $435,600