Media Release - 2023 Housing and Homelessness Report

For immediate release Aug. 9, 2024

Lanark County releases 2023 Housing and Homelessness Report

Lanark County Council recently received the annual Housing and Homelessness Report, which outlines work completed in 2023 related to seven priority areas.

“The soul of a thriving community is access to safe and affordable housing,” said Warden Steve Fournier (Drummond/North Elmsley Reeve). “While we continue to make great strides, much work is yet to be done.”

The seven priorities in the 10-year plan include:
1. Increased access to housing
2. Ending homelessness
3. Non-profit housing corporations and cooperatives
4. Private market
5. Coordination with community services
6. Meeting a broad range of community needs
7. Environmental sustainability

Direction related to these priorities include increasing the supply of affordable housing; planning for a diverse range of housing choices; stabilizing and revitalizing current social housing stock; ensuring an adequate supply of appropriate, supportive and universal housing; and educating the community on local housing needs and offering incentives to build affordable housing.

In her presentation to the Community Services Committee in June, Housing Services Manager Kaitlyn Murray outlined key projects undertaken in 2023, including:
• The opening of 188 Chambers St. in Smiths Falls in June 2023, which includes five rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units, two of which are fully accessible and three that are barrier free. Phase 4 of the Provincial Social Services Relief Funding (SSRF) covered $1.6 million of the cost of the build.
• Construction began on 44 Chambers St. in Smiths Falls, which is a partnership with Carebridge Community Support. Phase 5 SSRF covered $742,000, with $2.9 million in municipal funding. This will include 28 RGI and six affordable units for the next 40 years. The building opened in April 2024 with offers made from the centralized wait list, which is chronological based on the date of application.
• There were 465 applicants on the centralized wait list for RGI housing at the end of 2023, a
decrease of 10 per cent over 2022, with 254 new applications. There were 32 Special Priority Policy (SPP) applicants on the wait list (survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking who are placed at the top as legislated by the province). Fifty units were offered, with 19 of those housing SPP applicants. There were 48 unit turnovers last year, with 11 units rebuilt following a fire on Harvey Street in Perth.

• Among supports provided were four households receiving the Homeownership program downpayment for first-time home purchase ($103,160 in total); 26 households receiving funds from Renovate Lanark for mandatory home repairs ($284,826 in total); 72 municipal Portable Housing Benefit spaces for rent assistance ($284,273 total) and 180 Canada Ontario Housing Benefit spaces; and rent assistance funds to support 27 households through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative ($62,146).
• The Homeless Response Team had 116 new referrals to the by-name list (a real-time list of people experiencing homelessness in the community), with 62 from the list becoming housed. The team provided 120 backpacks containing essentials and 475 gift cards. The after-hours homeless assistance program helped 341 individuals. Through the Housing Assistance Program, $618,950 was issued to 1,356 households to prevent eviction or attain housing. As well, $126,000 was allocated to Lanark County Mental Health to support the Mobile Crisis Response Team, and a successful Rural Homelessness Conference was held. The Homeless Response Team adopts the ”Housing First” philosophy when assisting clients, aiming to provide supports to empower them to progress in their lives.

The report notes the county maintains 522 RGI units, non-profit housing providers maintain 182 and private market landlords maintain 70. The Adult Supportive Housing program caters to residents who meet specific income and asset criteria and require aid with daily living tasks. Currently, 74 beds are funded in four facilities. Lanark County Housing Corporation completed several building upgrade projects last year. The county works in partnership with several community agencies to support its programs.

CAO Kurt Greaves said ongoing inflationary pressures have exacerbated the housing crisis facing many across Canada. “Our Housing Services and Community Support Services team have been diligently working to ensure everyone has a place to stay and access to services. Their work goes right across the housing continuum, ensuring supports are in place to help people transition to housing, find permanent housing and to keep people housed.”
“As we approach the end of the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, I am encouraged by the collaboration and dedication shown by our community and proud of County Council’s steadfast commitment to housing through our continued investments in affordable housing,” Fournier added.

To see the full report, go to https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/en/family-and-social-services/resources/2023-Report-Card.pdf.

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For more information/media interviews, contact:

Emily Hollington
Director of Social Services
1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101