The City of Guelph and County of Wellington are looking at investing over $600,000 to help up to 25 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness this winter.
According to a new report coming to the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee next Wednesday, individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness could be offered accommodations starting Oct. 1 at the Norfolk Temporary Accommodation Site or a local hotel as a part of the City of Guelph and County of Wellington's 2024-25 Winter Response Plan.
This follows Guelph City Council's direction in May for an alternative accessible solution to address people living in Guelph encampments, including a winter plan to support people experiencing homelessness, if the County of Wellington Housing Services staff determines the Tiny Homes Coalition proposal is not viable.
Under the proposed 2024/2025 plan, only individuals with a permanent housing plan in place and regular engagement with any needed health support will be accommodated in hotels.
Any individuals who "need to remain in unsheltered homelessness" will be offered tangibles like tarps, tents, sleeping bags, pillows and warm clothing.
In response to a demand for safe and accessible storage of encampment belongings during last year's winter response plan, rented storage units have been budgeted to store encampment belongings at a readily and easily accessible location.
Approved transportation costs, limited access to food, and hygiene products will also be made available to people experiencing homelessness both in sheltered and unsheltered situations over the winter months.
Staff said cost estimates are based on accommodating up to 25 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, which is 10 per cent of the average number of people experiencing chronic and non-chronic homelessness on the by-name list, a real-time list of all people experiencing chronic homelessness in Wellington-Guelph, from January to June 2024.
The total projected cost for the plan is $662,300: split between $66,200 for the County and $596,100 for the city.
In June 2024, staff estimated that housing would experience in-year savings of approximately $350,000, which would be available to cover the winter response plan's 2024 cost of $283,800. An updated variance projection will be brought forward to the Committee and Council in October.
The 2025 cost of $378,500 will be included in the County’s 2025 Budget and Ten-Year plan process and will be 100 per cent municipally funded.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
