Cooperative Care Centre to Lose Funding & Face Closure at End of Year

United Counties of Leeds & Grenville to Cut Funding to Homeless Shelter!

Brockville – The Cooperative Care Centre (CCC) is facing closure by the end of the year, as they were informed on October 7th that the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville will not be funding The Centre after December 31st.

“Threatening the safety, dignity, and hope of vulnerable people experiencing homelessness in Brockville during the coldest months of the year,” said the Cooperative Care Centre.

The United Counties of Leeds & Grenville which looks after social services for the United Counties as well as the separated municipalities of Brockville and Gananoque, presented a report, the Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan for 2025-2026 (HPP) to the Joint Services Committee on October 7th which stated the funds previously attributed under HPP to the Cooperative Care Centre (CCC) will be redirected to support the ongoing operations of 1805 County Road 2, Hart Hub as well as the implementation of the Hart Hub shelter beds. Any funds redirected to meet community needs will be redirected with the priority of remaining within a sustainable funding model for as long as HPP is provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).

“This funding diversion comes at a time when the Centre is experiencing the highest demand for service in its five-year history. In fact, more than 300 people have been turned away so far this year, due to full capacity,” said Tony Barnes, Treasurer of the Brockville Housing Partnership, which runs the Centre. The Centre provides a full suite of services and supports that is not offered by any other shelter or proposed housing facility in Brockville.

There are shelter beds for 27 people, daily meals, hygiene services, life skills, programming, supportive counselling, case management, and on-site medical care. Staff offer harm reduction and work closely with those struggling with addiction, trauma, or multiple overlapping challenges.

The Cooperative Care Centre (CCC) says that while there is supportive housing in place or proposed in Brockville for more independent living (“the Cabins” and a new Hart Hub facility operated by the John Howard Society), the needs of the people supported at the Centre are greater than the resources available at any one facility on its own. As well, the new HART Hub facility emergency shelter, which has no date to open, is expected to provide only 15 beds. This facility is part of an abstinence-only, peer-following treatment centre, which does not offer harm reduction.

“Brockville is facing a massive crisis with 162 people officially listed as unhoused, numerous others unlisted, and homeless encampments becoming a fixture in the city. Fighting for funding with other organizations is the last thing we want to do when it’s clear that many layers of support are needed,” said Barnes. “For those struggling with addiction and trauma, like many of those who use the Centre, abstinence-only models and peer-following approaches often set these individuals up for failure. They need complex care, safety, trust, and gradual support.”

The Counties Homelessness Prevention Program states that with the CCC agreement ending and the focus on supportive housing, staff are prioritizing meeting with all individuals, as well as the two encampments at the CCC location, to determine who is appropriate for the shelter and supportive housing available immediately. With approximately 20 in encampments and up to 20 at the CCC, staff have more than sufficient space to accommodate everyone during the winter months to ensure that no one is left on the streets. Individuals will be prioritized for the cabins and/or supportive housing at 1805 County Road 2 prior to potential placement in the 21-day shelters and/or motel/hotel locations.

Brockville Mayor Matt Wren stated recently on his Facebook page, “I want to assure our community that I am keeping in very close contact with Warden Smith-Gatke and Counties administration as we work through the challenges related to shelter for unhoused individuals. I have been very clear, on behalf of the City of Brockville, that we are relying on the Counties as designated service manager for this file to ensure our residents are supported and kept safe.”

The Counties Homelessness Prevention Program also states, in addition to the motel provider mentioned earlier, staff are exploring vacant space currently available and zoned for emergency shelter usage in Brockville as an option to be utilized from November 2025 to March 2026. This may provide an alternative at a further reduced rate than is expected with the off-site motel/hotel providers. As negotiations are ongoing, further information will be provided once available.

The Centre says it does not accept that the people it serves will be out on the streets as of December 31. The Centre team and its Board have identified inaccuracies in the Joint Services Committee report, which paint a distorted picture of the services provided, the needs addressed by the Centre, its cost, effectiveness and funding requirements. The Centre team requests that the Joint Services Committee change its recommendation, and the United Counties agree to extend funding at least through the worst winter months. This would reduce the gap in care and allow time for the Centre to find other sources of funding.

In the meantime, the Centre is appealing to citizens of Brockville and the city’s political and business leaders to help preserve this vital service for the city’s most vulnerable residents. If you wish to donate or offer your support, contact the Centre.

The Centre also has an online petition to prevent the closure of Brockville’s essential shelter, available here:
https://www.change.org/p/prevent-the-closure-of-brockville-s-essential-shelter