
Homelessness Hub is an Overnight Warming Centre
The County of Essex is again providing a warming centre and haven from the cold to those experiencing homelessness this winter, Warden Hilda MacDonald said in her opening remarks to council on Wednesday.
The Essex County Homelessness Hub in Leamington is currently open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. seven days a week as a warming centre. It also continues to provide its regular services daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Please spread the word to those who can benefit from this valuable program,” MacDonald said.
She also reminded drivers to watch for plow trucks on Essex County roads and other thoroughfares as they clear snow and ice.
“Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics are busy, as well, with cold and flu season adding to the pressures on our health system,” the warden said. “We can all do our part by staying home when we are sick and going to the appropriate health care provider for non-emergencies.”
If you aren’t sure where to turn, Essex-Windsor EMS has a web page called Make the Right Call that lists the options and has other useful tips.
Agreement Approved to have Red Cross on Standby for Emergencies
Council approved an agreement to pay the Canadian Red Cross Society to be on standby to provide services – such as food, water, electricity, fuel, clothing, transportation and medical supplies – during a major emergency in the region.
The agreement is between the Red Cross, County of Essex and City of Windsor, which is also paying for the service. The agreement covers the years 2024 through 2026. The cost to the county is $21,888 a year. There will be other costs if there is an emergency that requires the Red Cross services, says a report.
County to Make Three Pitches to Province at Conference
County of Essex representatives have been invited to meet with Ontario government officials later this month to advocate on three issues of regional importance.
The county applied and received approval to make its presentations in Toronto during the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference Jan. 19 to Jan. 21, says a report by CAO Sandra Zwiers.
Essex County representatives will meet with:
- Ministry of Transportation officials to advocate for funding to build grade-separated interchanges on County Road 22 at County 19 and Lesperance Road;
- Ministry of Infrastructure officials to advocate with the Town of Tecumseh for funding to enhance and expand County Road 19 to four lanes; and
- Ministry of Health officials to request the transfer of operational responsibility for the Windsor Central Ambulance Communications Centre to the county, allowing Essex-Windsor EMS to manage day-to-day decision-making.
Municipalities Benefit from Additional Federal Funds
Essex County and local municipalities will receive additional Canada Community-Building Fund money thanks to lower than projected administration costs for 2024.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which administers the program for all municipalities in the province except Toronto, has released the money after determining its costs were lower than expected.
As with all Canada Community-Building Fund distributions in Essex County, 80 per cent is going to the local municipalities, says a report from Director, Financial Services/Treasurer Melissa Ryan. Essex County was allocated $89,691 of the 2024 surplus and $53,815 of that amount is being distributed to the local municipalities on a per capita basis.
Online Form to Allow Residents to Contact All Councillors
An online form will be hosted on the County of Essex website that allows a resident to send a message to all members of county council. The communication will at the same time be sent to the clerk and the chief administrative officer.
Currently, there is no way for residents to contact all members of council at once except by inputting individual email addresses, says a report by Clerk Katherine Hebert.
County to Seek Proposals for Supportive Housing Program
Council directed Administration to commence a formal procurement process with respect to an Intensive Supportive Housing Program in the County, bring a report back to council and pursue a short-term contract with a service provider until the procurement process concludes.
The City of Windsor, which is responsible for social services in the region, administers the funding for the program. To date, the county has not used funds from the municipal levy for the program, says a report to council.
Representatives of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Family Services Windsor-Essex and the South Essex Community Council made presentations to council about the issue.
Council also voted to send a letter to the province calling for increased funding for the homelessness prevention program so that municipalities can support vulnerable residents, and invited local MPPs to a future council meeting to discuss the matter.
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