2026-2027 Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan – Issue Report

Report To:                                    Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board

From:                                                Lori Clark, Director of Integrated Human Services
                                                               Kristian Thorne, Integrated Human Services Manager

Date:                                                  June 18, 202

Re:                                                      Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan - Issue Report

Strategic Plan Goal              1. Expand Service Delivery
Objective:                                     3.1 Lead with innovation to expand services that meet evolving community needs and support sustainable growth across the districts
                                   

Purpose

To provide the Board with information on the 2026-27 Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) Investment Plan.

Background

Staff received confirmation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) on June 5th that our 2026-27 HPP allocation will be $2, 537, 600

The HPP aims to address chronic homelessness across the province and flexibility to support a wide range of homelessness prevention and supportive housing initiatives. The funding also provides the necessary flexibility to fund capital projects and provide longer-term rental assistance as appropriate.

HPP is administered under a service agreement between the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and each service manager. Service managers are provided with funding and flexibility to offer programs and services to meet the objectives and outcomes of HPP. The investment plan below has been submitted to MMAH conditionally pending board approval.

Investment Plan

Service managers are required to submit an annual investment plan to the ministry. The ministry reviews and approves investment plans from a financial and program perspective to ensure that the plans follow the HPP Guidelines.

The investment plan requires staff to forecast and outline spending HPP funds in the upcoming fiscal year, across all categories. There are opportunities to adjust planned expenditures based on community need.

Our services and activities will continue to prioritize keeping seniors in their own homes. We will continue to provide a direct shelter subsidy to assist those on our Community Housing wait list to maintain their current accommodation without accessing their basic needs. Updates will be made to our Direct Shelter Subsidy program to support improved access to portable housing benefits which will result in more individuals being eligible for the benefit.

HPP will continue to be used to support alternative emergency shelter solutions including short term stays and transportation to meet immediate needs. HPP is used to alleviate pressures caused by not having a formal emergency shelter in the district.

HPP funding will be used to continue to offer support in response to ever changing community needs including rent supplements, food security and short-term housing assistance.

Food bank usage continued in our district; food security challenges have been identified with Social Assistance, Housing, and Early Years clients as well as homeless individuals. Food banks are also sharing that many clients are not receiving social assistance but are working in low-income jobs and experiencing high shelter costs which results in the need to access food banks. While supporting food banks is a critical component to HPP, we also need to consider solutions that would support families directly and reduce their reliance on food banks. Funding will continue to food banks while staff support food banks seek alternative solutions to DSB funding.

We plan to continue our partnership with Health Sciences North in Lacloche that allows for increased short term mental health support as well as immediate shelter needs and access to food/ transportation.

We intend to provide increased financial support to households receiving and/or applying for our Direct Shelter Subsidy program. We have noticed significant increases in rental amounts which are no longer affordable in our district. We believe increasing our portable housing benefit will provide some relief to those who are overburdened and relying heavily on community supports.

The flexibility of HPP allows us the ability to focus efforts where the need is. The partnerships we have created with community agencies increase our understanding as to community need and pressures.

The 2026/27 HPP allocation is a one-year allocation, because of a one-year allocation will are unable to build new supportive housing. Instead, we propose to acquire units to support an increase in affordable housing in our district. This approach will compliment our proposed approach to 2026/27 COCHI funding which proposes acquisition rather than new construction due to the limited funding amount.

The location of the property has not yet been determined and will be selected based on data from the recent Housing Needs Assessment, the By-Name List, Housing and Homelessness Plan, current waitlist data and the availability of suitable real estate opportunities. As of April 719 households are waiting for Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Community Housing, 65% are in the Lacloche area, 18% on Manitoulin, 8% in Sudbury North and 9% in Sudbury East. Most applicants, 67%, are seeking a one-bedroom unit.

We will continue to provide onsite case management support at Cornerstone Homes. Onsite support includes rent supplements, budgeting, employment, life skills and/or healthy eating.

The complete breakdown of the allocation is as follows:

Allocation $2,537,600

Conclusion

Staff are recommending that the Board approve the HPP Investment Plan totaling $2,537,600, and to submit the report to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.