THUNDER BAY – The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Board has an extra $584,150 to help vulnerable people in the city and surrounding area.
The money is part of the provincial government’s $200-million commitment to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the money part of the Social Services Relief Fund.
The majority of the money, $148 million, is being provided through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and its Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Initiative.
Fifty per cent of the allocation is available immediately, with a review of the remainder of the funds to be conducted in the coming months.
Under the program, the TBDSSAB will be eligible for up to $1.16 million in 2020-21.
Locally, the money can be used for a variety of purposes, to help those living in community or supportive housing, the homeless and others needing social services support.
Using the funds, the TBDSSAB has secured access for up to 170 hotel rooms to provide physical distancing and, if necessary, isolation.
A pandemic fund has also been created to help organizations facing increased or new costs supporting or preventing homelessness due to COVID-19.
Applications are still being accepted.
“TBDSSAB and the Province of Ontario recognize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable residents of the District of Thunder Bay,” said TBDSSAB board chair Lucy Kloosterhuis, in a release issued on Friday.
“The Social Services Relief Fund will help to mitigate some of the effects of this crisis in our district.”
