Welcoming Streets needs money to keep operating next year

A program dealing with the homeless and other vulnerable people in Belleville’s Downtown District is again looking for financial support.

Monday, BIA Executive Director Danielle Hanoman asked council for $140,000 to keep Welcoming Streets and its two full-time staff operating in the downtown.  Help is also provided by Loyalist College students.

Hanoman says the award-winning program helps the vulnerable, the police, and businesses.

“In response to calls for service from our business owners and property owners, our trained Welcoming Streets staff promptly engage with individuals facing challenges related to mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness.”

So far this year, Welcoming Streets stewards have been in 810 interactions with people in one form of distress or another.  The number of calls involving mental health issues was 161 while the number of distinct individuals helped was 118.

The Belleville Police Service backs the program 100 per cent saying the stewards’ response to problems definitely cuts down the number of calls to police allowing officers to attend to more pressing duties.  Welcoming Streets staff often calm volatile situations and often guide people to the service agencies they need for help.

The program has been turned down for $200,000 in funding by Hastings County but is still awaiting responses on other funding opportunities.  Belleville’s BIA itself has not provided funding for Welcoming Streets.

Belleville council approved $140,000 in this year’s budget to keep the program running.  A decision will be made for the 2024  budget at council’s next meeting.