Provincial funds bolster supportive housing services

Three local non-profit organizations are receiving a combined total of $51,600 in provincial funds to help provide supportive housing services in our community, said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci.

Funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care will help clients of the following three local non-profits live more independently:

-Canadian Mental Health Association: $9,300;

-ICAN – Independent Centre and Network: $33,000 which includes $23,700 for costs associated with compliance of the new Ontario Fire Code;

-Iris Addiction Recovery for Women: $9,300.

“The Supportive Housing Program is so important to our community,” said Bartolucci. “These investments will help ensure the most vulnerable members of our community continue to live with dignity and security.”

Supportive Housing is for seniors or other persons who have a physical or mental disability and who do not require 24 hour nursing care, but whose care requirements cannot be met solely on a scheduled visitation basis.

Clients live in a specially designed building, or in a cluster of adapted apartments within an ordinary apartment building, including shared houses or apartments, and self-contained apartments. This program provides a combination of personal support and homemaking services, security checks or reassurance services, and care co-ordination.

Over the next 20 years, the population of seniors aged 65 and over in Ontario will more than double from 1.9 million today to 4.2 million in 2036.