Hastings County Council has accepted a more focused approach to funding programs for the growing homeless population.
A total of almost $6.5 million, most from the provincial government, will be available to the county this year and next.
Director of the Community and Human Services Department Jamie Lynne Osmond says about half the money will be granted to three organizations that target either youth, lack of singles housing, and mental health and addictions.
They are St. Leonard’s Home to help youth, Grace Inn for singles accommodation, and John Howard Society for its mental health/addictions services.
Most of the rest of the money will go to programs for the homeless administered by municipalities, such as warming rooms, however, $500,000 is set aside this year to allow agencies to apply to run a county-wide food distribution centre.
See additional details in this May 14 story from a meeting of Hastings County’s Community and Human Services Department.
