Oxford County Council is using a $2 million gift from the City of Woodstock to plan and construct a homelessness service centre. The city and other parts of the county, including Ingersoll, have struggled with finding solutions to the crisis which has led to Woodstock pumping $200,000 taxpayer dollars into cleaning up abandoned encampment sites (Lee Griffi photo).
Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
No one knows exactly what it is, but Oxford County may get a homelessness service centre within the next few years.
“Therefore be it resolved that Council receive the letter from the City of Woodstock and that County staff return with a report on how the BFF (Building Faster Fund) funding can be utilized for the development of a Homelessness Service Centre with a focus on transitioning people out of homelessness within the County of Oxford,” was the motion passed unanimously at a recent meeting.
The City of Woodstock was given just under $2 million by the province for exceeding its 2023 home approvals target. The goal was 403 and 475 were approved. The cash needs to be spent on projects allowed by the province, such as supporting housing infrastructure, affordable housing or homelessness centres. Time constraints are also attached to the money and the province could claw it back if it isn’t utilized by 2026.
The confusion is this – the city of Woodstock is giving the county the money but the city submitted a plan on how it is spending the money by giving it to the county. Now, the county has been tasked with coming up with a specific plan for what a homelessness centre is.
Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan said the gift from Woodstock was a very generous, mature and responsible thing to do.
“The best spend of this money for the residents of Woodstock is to give it to the County of Oxford to develop a homelessness service centre.”
Ryan admitted there are many questions to be answered about exactly what that is and exactly where it should be.
“But let’s direct our (county) staff to tell us what their recommendations are.”
He added the largest part of the debate at county council was what the end result could look like.
“A lot of municipalities have variations on this but the largest chunk of the debate we had was what (is it). You put 10 county councillors in a room and there are 10 different ideas of what it is and what it isn’t. Add in 130,000 Oxford residents and there are more ideas. It’s not a legally defined thing.”
There are many different models of centres across Ontario, something Ryan said is why staff have been asked to come up with a report.
“On what the most effective homelessness service centre looks like. The motion, which passed unanimously, mentions a focus on transitioning people out of homelessness. Councillor (Phil) Schaefer said this can’t be a destination for people so we don’t want this to be a place where homeless people go.”
Ryan explained the goal is to have the centre as a place where homeless people go as they move out of homelessness. He added there is somewhat of a blueprint for staff to work with.
“We are halfway down that path because county council has already given direction to develop a homelessness response strategy. We have consulted with the agencies that are involved in this area. It is going to inform what an effective homelessness service centre will look like.”
The City of Woodstock had to submit its spending plan for the money by last Friday, which it did. The plan does require approval by the province.
“The existing shelter system, which is overseen by the county, is operated out of three church-based and shared locations. It has been in place for more than 15 years and has not adapted to the changing needs and necessary accommodations to provide an appropriate first step into housing for individuals experiencing homelessness,” it said.
It added “The model introduces a number of barriers that prevent many people experiencing homelessness in our community from accessing their services. As a result, the City of Woodstock, like many communities, has been impacted by a growing number of encampments on city properties. These encampments have led to a significant increase in negative interactions with neighbourhoods, businesses and local industry.”
Woodstock Mayor and County Councillor Jerry Acchione brought forward to motion to spend the $2 million to combat homelessness. He said the crisis is one of the most significant challenges the county has faced in its history.
“Not a day has gone by over the last two years where I haven’t heard from a resident, councillor, business or one of our community partners struggling to figure things out. I see work being done by our provincial and federal governments but we certainly can not wait.”
He added the Building Faster Fund was designed for municipalities to take swift action to address pressing challenges.
“For us, in my opinion, there was no challenge more urgent than the growing crisis and that is why I made this motion.”
Oxford County staff will bring a report to council although the motion passed did not provide an exact timeline. One challenging part will be to find a suitable location for a homelessness centre.
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