Cochrane services board awaits overdue homelessness funding

The Cochrane District Services Administration Board says coordination, more funding and housing options are needed to prevent more homelessness.

Homelessness continues to be a growing challenge in Timmins.

Leaders with the Cochrane District Services Administration Board said this week that stronger coordination, increased funding and more housing options are urgently needed to prevent more people from falling into homelessness.

Board CAO Brian Marks said poverty, rising living costs and limited access to health care are driving more residents into crisis situations across the region.

The board currently receives about $6 million in provincial homelessness funding, along with another $1 million from the federal Reaching Home program.

However, Marks said uncertainty around future provincial funding is making long-term planning difficult.

“We’re coming into June now. We still don’t have our homelessness prevention program allocation for this year or the next two years,” he said.

At a recent meeting, Timmins city council passed a resolution calling for increased support from senior levels of government.

“I’m just exasperated,” said Coun. Steve Black.

“We take the brunt of the blame for an issue that is largely provincial and federal responsibility, to at least come to the table and give us a dedicated stream of funds to do this.”

With additional funding, the board hopes to expand supportive and transitional housing options in Timmins. Projects could include repurposing buildings owned by the board on Spruce Street South and in South Porcupine.

“Because we have to start focusing on keeping people out of homelessness and out of shelter, because once people enter a shelter system, it’s difficult to get out,” said Marks.

He added that the district’s geared-to-income housing wait list remains at roughly 2,000 people -- nearly equal to the number of available housing units.

“The flows into poverty and homelessness are much greater than any one particular municipality can possibly resource to stem the tide,” he said.

Marks said municipalities are doing what they can, but homelessness has become a national issue that will require coordinated action from all levels of government.

A community leaders meeting planned for late June involving municipalities and First Nations leaders is expected to focus on creating a more unified regional strategy to address homelessness across northeastern Ontario.