PROVINCE GIVES $2.1 MILLION FOR COVID HOUSING, SOCIAL SERVICES

PARRY SOUND-MUSOKA — Local social services can help house, feed and keep utilities on with more than $2.1 million from the province.

MPP Norman Miller says in a release today that hard-hit residents suffering from COVID-19 fallout will benefit from in provincial funding to help keep vulnerable people in Parry Sound-Muskoka safe during COVID-19.

The District of Muskoka will receive $1,172,769 from the Social Services Relief Fund while the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board will receive $949,103.

“Our government is continuing to provide the resources necessary to protect those residents who rely on housing supports and other social services during the pandemic,” said Miller.

“This new funding from the province is on top of last year’s joint federal-provincial funding that totalled $4.2 million in our area.”

He said the money is part of the province’s additional $255 million investment through the Social Services Relief Fund.

And is so local service managers and Indigenous program partners can use to protect their clients from COVID-19.

It could be used to acquire motel and hotel spaces to support physical distancing of homeless individuals, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies for shelters, purchase food, or add to rent and utility banks to prevent more people from becoming homeless.

“This investment will ensure our municipal service managers can keep vulnerable people safe by providing them with the financial ability to take any means necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 among their clients,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.