Supportive Housing Cabins Approved by Leeds & Grenville Joint Services Committee

Brockville – The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville is pleased to announce the final approval of a long-awaited and critically needed supportive housing project aimed at addressing homelessness in the region.

Having received $3.1 million in annual funding from the Government of Ontario’s Homeless Prevention Program, the United Counties directed a $1.6 million investment towards 25 cabins that will be established in the City of Brockville for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, providing them with short-term stabilization as they transition to longer-term supportive housing.

At a special meeting of the Joint Services Committee (JSC) earlier this week, the remaining details of the project were given the green light.

“On behalf of our colleagues, we would like to extend our thanks to MPP Clark and the Government of Ontario, who increased the funds available to Municipalities and upper-tier governments to support innovative projects like this one. Since the identification of this project, United Counties staff have worked tirelessly with City staff and stakeholders to put plans into motion to establish this supervised housing initiative in Brockville. A lot of hard work and persistence has been required from all parties, but we are one step closer to seeing this project come to fruition,” said Warden Nancy Peckford and JSC Chair Mayor Brant Burrow in a Joint statement.

“I want to commend the Joint Services Committee for utilizing funds from our government to take this important step forward in addressing the issue of chronic homelessness in our community,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our partners at the provincial and federal levels to make further progress to support the most vulnerable in our community.”

The United Counties has entered into a long-term lease arrangement with the City of Brockville for the lands surrounding 1805 County Road 2 East, a former City of Brockville administrative building.

Brockville’s Mayor, Matt Wren, said “The City of Brockville welcomes this greatly needed supportive living cabin initiative that will provide a safe and secure place for unhoused individuals in our community who currently have had no other options. We are very pleased to work cooperatively with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on this initiative. The result has been an expanded use of this City of Brockville property to serve the needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

The John Howard Society will oversee the cabin neighbourhood, providing 24/7 supervision and engaging residents in various essential services and programs. This comprehensive support system is designed to help residents stabilize and prepare for the next steps in their housing journey.

They shared the following statement: “This endeavour builds upon our commitment to providing services which are responsive to our community’s unique needs. We look forward to embarking on this initiative of continued service to our community’s most barriered individuals in collaboration with our valued partners. We are excited for the future and for the opportunities, this project will provide not only for the cabin residents but our community as a whole.”

The JSC, comprised of the Mayors of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville, the City of Brockville, the Town of Gananoque, and the Town of Prescott, have expressed unanimous support for this initiative.

The cabin project is anticipated to be ready for occupancy by November 2024, offering much-needed relief to the community’s limited resources.