The United Counties of Leeds & Grenville’s new initiative to combat homelessness in the region is officially ready.
The Supportive Housing Initiative consists of 25 cabins that are each equipped with basic living amenities to give the occupants a secure place to live.
“We are very excited. Our cabins project has been long awaited,” says Corinna Smith-Gatcke, the Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
The cabins, located in the east end of Brockville, Ont., are meant to serve as housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness in the area.
The John Howard Society - a partner with the City of Brockville and the United Counties on the project - will be managing the site with 24/7 supervision.
Assistant Executive Director Robyn Holmes tells CTV News Ottawa that the goal of the initiative is to support each individual to help them find permanent housing.
“We want to allow them to really sit here, absorb those supports, and just take the time to be housed and comfortable before they move on,” she says. “Being able to sleep somewhere at night where you can lock up safely, lock yourself up and your belongings. That means a lot to these people.”
Despite technically being temporary housing, Holmes says there won’t be a time limit for how long each individual can stay.
“What one individual needs to move on is very different from what another needs,” she explains. “So, we want to make sure that we don’t move them on too quickly, that they are provided with complete skills that will allow them to sustain their housing once they secure it.”
People are selected to live in the cabins through the United Counties’ by-name list, which Smith-Gatcke says has about 130 names on it.
“That has obviously prompted the provincial government to realize that this is a chronic problem,” she says.
Construction of the cabins was funded through the provincial government’s Homelessness Prevention Program. Officials feel it’s an acknowledgement that homelessness impacts rural communities too.
“I think it’s a misconception that homelessness is contained to urban metropolitan areas,” says Holmes. “It was a huge step forward for our counties to seek funding for a project like this.”
