The pandemic and a “slow recovery” have had an impact on social services in Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West.
Director Suzanne Ritchie Raymond told the Community and Human Services Committee on Wednesday that over the past several months the department has been managing increases in service demands largely impacted by the pandemic.
There has also been a slower than anticipated recovery along with a series of changes to funding and services.
Ritchie Raymond says the department will support retention and recruitment of high quality staff.
She notes, “Issues such as homelessness, barriers to employment, mental health and addiction, food insecurity and affordable housing continue to drive instability and homelessness issues.”
- Implementing the Child Care and Early Years Workforce Strategy, to support the retention and recruitment of high-quality workforce, is critical to our success in implementing the new program.
- Community Response Team (CRT) ongoing implementation and case management of the By Name List of 127 individuals who identified as homeless and requesting assistance during the November enumeration. Recent months have seen a significant increase in urgent requests from community groups and individuals seeking assistance.
- Community Response Team support to managing the three warming centres and providing support to visitors each morning has been steady and efforts to ensure engagement with program participants prior to the end of the programs March 31 is a priority. Planning for the 2022-2023 season has begun and is outlined in a report on the agenda today.
Quinte West Councillor Karen Sharpe commended the department for work during the transition and review of all the programs and all the realignments.
“All the housing strategies and outreach. There has been so much on the plate of this department. This group has maintained, extended outreach services and now we’re looking forward to another year.”
Sharpe pointed to the case management of 127 individuals identified as homeless during the November enumeration.
There are also increased calls for assistance for housing tenants and management of conflict between residents.
Hastings County communities, Belleville and Quinte West are members of the Community and Human Services Committee.
To read the full report by Suzanne Ritchie Raymond CLICK HERE
