Bruce County’s Human Services department says that they’re working with the YMCA to come up with a way to give shelter to homeless people who use their services.
In a report presented to council this week, the department says that the required number of spaces that are needed on a nightly basis outnumbers the spaces available for emergency shelter.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau says that he was interested to see the report specifically say that the number of nights required and the cost of delivering services has reached unsustainable levels.
“We knew that, I mean it’s not something that we weren’t unaware of,” he said during Thursday’s meeting. “It seemed like it was becoming more unsustainable, so it doesn’t surprise me to read those words… So what can we do right now?”
The focus now for Housing Services staff and the YMCA is to redevelop the county’s homelessness response model.
Human Services Director Tina Metcalfe explained, “[We’re] actively exploring situations with those who might need emergency shelter, looking at alternatives rather than emergency shelter, connecting with community partners to see what other supports and services may be of assistance, and then for those that do enter the emergency shelter system, to actively work together with them on developing plans to exit into more stable forms of housing.”
The change will now focus on shorter stays, faster re-housing, and active involvement in individualized housing plans.
The Housing Services division focuses on programs and services related to affordable housing, as well as housing stability support, emergency shelter, and homelessness solutions.
The report looks at programs and services between January and June of 2024.