Backing Cheshire Homes

Hastings County is supporting a bid by Cheshire Homes to provide additional supports to tenants living in social housing.

At its meeting this week, county council voted to back the move.

A report to council indicated there are opportunities to consolidate several clients within designated county owned-and-operated buildings to provide care on location 24/7, rather than through scheduled visits.
Cheshire’s two main programs include Supportive Housing and the Attendant Care Outreach program.

In October, Ontario Health Teams East announced that it was accepting Health System Funding Proposals from the east region health service providers for 2022-2023.

The supportive housing program houses nine individuals located in the City of Belleville. The program offers 24/7 onsite personal support workers 365 days a year. Clients live in their own rooms, pay room and board, and cover the costs of their own personal supplies with meals provided. Currently, Housing Services partners with Cheshire to provide nine rent supplements through a rent geared to income calculation.

This program is focused on providing personal support services in a client’s private residence. Clients’ care needs are assessed and a service plan is created that identifies how many visits a client will receive each week, days they will receive services, what services will be provided and at what times during the day visits will occur. Individuals who have a permanent physical disability and require physical assistance with activities of daily living and do not have existing programs or services in place, may be eligible. Cheshire currently provides services to approximately 76 clients across Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.

Over the past several months, Cheshire has been in communication with Housing Services staff, discussing partnerships with various models and options to provide additional supports to tenants living in social housing.