Housing supports central to 2020 Social Services Committee agenda

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BRANTFORD, ON: In October 2019, Health and Human Services staff reacted swiftly to increase the City’s capacity to provide emergency shelter beds in response to an unprecedented surge in demand for emergency shelter in Brantford.

Challenges complicated by addiction, poor physical and/or mental health issues, lack of meaningful connection to community or personal supports, and limited housing options/solutions or housing first supports for tenants and landlords have clearly contributed to the increased demand for shelter.

“The dramatic increase in demand for emergency shelter in the city has brought to light the profound need to make more affordable housing options in our community an even greater priority”, said newly elected Social Service Committee Chair, Dan McCreary at today’s first Social Services Committee meeting of 2020. “As we build on the great work that has been done to date, I want to thank Councillor Rick Weaver for his steadfast commitment and leadership on this issue as Committee Chair in 2019.”

“I was honoured to serve as Chair of the Social Services Committee in 2019 and while there is much work to be done, I am really proud of what we accomplished and look forward to supporting Chair McCreary in the role of Vice-Chair this year to continue to make progress on this important issue and move vital City programs forward.”

Key 2019 achievements include, implementation of the Brantford Downtown Outreach Team (BDOT), approval of the Affordable Housing Master Plan, the addition of several parcels of City land to our housing inventory, and the approval of 24 Habitat Build affordable units that will be owned by families who qualify under the Habitat program.

Together with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the City also broke ground in 2019 on a new provincially funded 30-unit supported housing build on Marlene Avenue, targeted to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. The new fully accessible building is scheduled to open in Spring 2020. 

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Media Contact:

Maria Visocchi - Director, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519.751.9900 ext. 5754 |  mvisocchi@brantford.ca