A funding crisis has resurfaced at Ark Aid Street Mission and 519 Pursuit as municipal stopgap funding will run out on July 31 before a federal encampment program is renewed. “We’re seeing anywhere between 200 and 400 people through these doors each day that we’re open,” explained Sarah Campbell, executive director of Ark Aid Street Mission. Campbell warns that The Ark’s daytime drop-in hours will be slashed at 696 Dundas Street when municipal bridge funding expires at the end of this week and the agency has to rely entirely on donations. “We’re talking about four to eight hours of service per day. That’s all we have,” she told CTV News. “When we close these doors, there’s no seven-day-a-week place for people to go.” In April, city council approved spending up to $350,000 to maintain daytime drop-in spaces at The Ark plus encampment outreach provided by 519 Pursuit until the federal government restarts the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI). The previous UHEI funding expired March 31, but an announcement by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure the following day promised to extend the program with $125 million. The federal government’s news release on April 1 acknowledged the urgent challenge faced by unsheltered homelessness and committed “Addressing homelessness requires immediate action to expand supportive and deeply affordable housing, reduce barriers, and deliver solutions faster for those who need them most.” Almost four months later, the municipal stopgap funding is just days away from running out and The Ark and 519 Pursuit have no indication when the $125 million will be dispersed. “We don’t know what’s going on with that funding. Our municipal counterparts in Civic Administration, we’ve been talking with them, and they’ve said there’s no application,” Campbell said. “There’s no clarity on what that funding will be utilized for at this time.” Campbell says while daytime drop-in spaces are in jeopardy at The Ark, the impact of the funding gap at 519 Pursuit is just as profound. “When we lose the 519 Pursuit funding, that’s often the first point of contact that brings people into these types of consistent services (at The Ark) that lead to the opportunity, when available, to go into shelter and move towards a permanent home,” said Campbell. On Tuesday morning, CTV News asked the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure about its timeline for disbursing the federal funds, and what advice it has for agencies during the interim period. There has yet to be a response to our questions. In April, a motion by Coun. Corrine Rahman and Mayor Josh Morgan utilized up to $350,000 from a reserve fund to provide interim support for both 519Pursuit (up to $25,000/month) and Ark Aid Street Mission (up to $60,000/month) until such time as Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) funding or other funding from the provincial government or federal government is realized. “Every dollar we spend now calls into question the dollars we will have come wintertime. So, it’s always having to manage (our) resources against a backdrop of significant need,” Campbell lamented. Campbell says the generosity of donors becomes even more critical as the status of senior government funding remains uncertain. “We’re going to collaborate with anyone who’s willing,” she said. “Our donors, our partners, certainly the City of London, certainly the federal government, and hopefully the province comes to the table.” Campbell intends to speak at the next meeting of the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) on Aug. 10.
