[Huron County, Ontario] – Huron County is receiving $708,100 from the Province of Ontario’s $200 million Social Services Relief Fund in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. County of Huron Social Services is working on a multifaceted approach to distribute funds and ensure that vulnerable members of the Huron County community are able to receive the support they need to remain safe and healthy.
Of the $708,000 fund received by the County, approximately $400,000 will be allocated to helping vulnerable people in need, including individuals living in community housing, supportive housing, people with low incomes, social assistance recipients, those that are experiencing homelessness, and others who require increased social services support to stay safe and healthy throughout the pandemic period. Examples of how this allocation of funds will be used include motels or hotels as emergency temporary accommodations, housing allowances, transportation costs, food and supplies, enhanced cleaning services, and other associated costs.
Recognizing the immediate funding needs for agencies that support Huron County’s vulnerable populations, the County of Huron has partnered with United Way Perth-Huron to flow $100,000 of the Social Services Relief Fund into the not-for-profit stream of the Urgent Needs Fund program. This program enables organizations access to funding they need quickly for providing increased services to community members that require social supports in Huron County. Registered charities or incorporated not-for-profit organizations can apply for this funding immediately.
The remaining $208,100 of the Social Services Relief Fund will be held and disbursed in the coming weeks and months, based on gaps and needs that will be identified in Huron County’s social framework. A County of Huron working group of staff members has been established, which will reach out to key stakeholder groups that work with vulnerable populations and help identify where there are gaps in supporting community members in need of enhanced assistance during this time. Information collected from these stakeholders will shape the distribution criteria for this funding and lay the groundwork for administering this program. Based on this, the eligibility and allocation process for the Social Services Relief Fund will ensure the funds are dispersed to those in critical need. More information on how to access this funding will be provided in the near future. In the meantime, organizations providing support to vulnerable populations that are in immediate need of funding support can apply to the not-for-profit stream of the Urgent Needs Relief Fund.
In addition to the above, the County of Huron Ontario Works division provides income and employment support to people in temporary financial need. For more information on how Ontario Works programs are being maintained throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, please view the Ontario Works Community Resource Guide on the County’s website. This document summarizes the adjustments made to Ontario Works regular operations and services in response to COVID-19.
Huron County continues to urge all residents to practice physical distancing and proper hygiene protocols outlined by the Provincial Medical Officer of Health. Stay informed on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Huron County by visiting the Huron-Perth Public Health website.
