
Now that the men’s shelter has been closed, the Town of Orangeville Men’s Homelessness Committee is acting to find another solution before winter hits.
“The past couple of weeks have been interesting and difficult,” said Mayor Sandy Brown at the October 20 Orangeville Men’s Homelessness Committee meeting. “I wonder if Choices is biting off more than they can chew.”
On October 19, 2021, Choices Shelter notified the public through Twitter that it had temporarily suspended the men’s shelter. According to Dufferin County staff, Choices was unable to renew the lease for the facilities housing the men’s shelter. Mayor Brown had brought forward a motion to have the Town of Orangeville supply emergency funding of $166,546 for a men’s shelter from November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. This money would be doled out monthly to Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP), Choices or other support agencies to provide shelter, food, and support for homeless men in Orangeville and Dufferin County. On October 4, council amended the motion to request that Dufferin County take on the funding request instead. Brown said he spoke to five of the six other Orangeville councillors and determined that the original motion would not have passed.
“We stutter-stepped into asking for support at Dufferin County,” said Mayor Brown.
Anna McGregor, Director of Community Services, has submitted a report to Dufferin County’s Health and Human Services Committee stating that work on supplying funding for a men’s shelter was already in progress before Orangeville council passed their motion, beginning in August after becoming aware of the men’s shelter through a Facebook post put out by Choices. McGregor writes that Dufferin County confirmed to Choices that financial support would be available and offered to review the contractual arrangements, similar to a process that two parties had undergone when Choices opened a ‘transitional’ unit. McGregor states that there is no new funding for a men’s shelter. However, she writes that they can redirect existing resources to a men’s shelter. As previously reported, Choices cancelled its meeting in early September with Dufferin County to discuss funding so that they could improve their business case. McGregor states that Choices re-established contact on October 4, and the funding meeting was then rescheduled for October 8.
The staff document outlines how, at the October 8 meeting, the business case presented by Choices did not provide details on the shelter’s mandate. The business case also did not separate start-up costs from operational costs or detail revenue streams. McGregor describes how, at this meeting, Choices was offered the option of ‘one-time’ start-up funding conditional on Choices supplying information on start-up costs. In her report, McGregor states that they are still waiting for these details and when a new property will be secured.
“My concern, which I think some have shared as well, is the ability for Choices to handle this,” Mayor Brown told the Men’s Homelessness Committee. “I think the precipitous nature of them starting up that men’s homeless shelter was problematic when they did not have a funding stream or lease agreement in place.”
The Town of Orangeville Men’s Homelessness Committee is considering its next steps, such as looking at other service providers to manage a men’s shelter, including Family Transition Place (FTP).
“I feel that Family Transition Place is such a solid organization,” told Mayor Brown. “With all of the resources that they’re drawing upon now, they may be the conduit through which we could get something done to support men in our community.”
Councillor Joe Andrews said he had been connected with Family Transition Place for several years, saying it is well run and has an ‘incredible’ amount of credibility.
“I think it would be advantageous for us to see if there’s an opportunity to work with FTP in some capacity,” said Councillor Andrews.
Committee members communicated amongst each other how winter was soon approaching and that an answer needed to be found as quickly as possible.
“We need to find solutions before the snow flies,” said committee member Louis Sapi. “We need to focus on emergency right now.”
The committee spoke of approaching those already providing support to homeless men in the area, such as the Lighthouse and the Salvation Army. Members suggested requesting assistance from those operating local religious establishments, agreeing that it could be a way of tackling the emergency housing issue in the short term, and resolved to act on this. Mayor Brown also suggested the committee contact SHIP to see what they could do to help. Committee members decided to meet on October 25 to discuss their progress.
Councillor Andrews communicated that the homelessness issue seems to be growing, saying he’s been notified of a ‘small tent encampment’ on Hansen Boulevard. He said he informed Anna McGregor so the county could assist the individuals involved. However, Andrews said he had not received a timeline for when that would occur. Committee members had doubts as to how seriously Dufferin County staff is taking the homelessness issue.
“The reaction that county’s staff is providing to this issue is not helpful; they dismiss it,” said committee member Terry Carter. “Anna is running that organization in a way that reflects what she wants, it is not meeting the needs that we see.”
Sandy Brown said that he would take the homelessness issue to Dufferin County’s Health and Human Services Committee, which is set to discuss the homelessness concerns in the area at its next meeting on October 28, 2021.
References – Orangeville Homelessness Committee Examining Options
- October 28, 2021 Dufferin County Health & Human Services Committee Meeting Agenda – Town of Orangeville
- October 20, 2021 Town of Orangeville Men’s Homelessness Committee Meeting Agenda – Town of Orangeville
- October 4, 2021 Town of Orangeville Council Meeting Agenda – Town of Orangeville
- October 4, 2021 Town of Orangeville Council Meeting – Town of Orangeville YouTube Channel
- Dufferin Men’s Shelter: Business Case – Town of Orangeville
- Homeless Committee Raises Concerns With Choices Shelter
- Orangeville Homeless Committee Supports Men’s Shelter
- Members Added to Orangeville Men’s Homelessness Committee
More Dufferin News
- Headwaters Radiologist Hopes to Bring Skills to Shelburne
- Unforeseen Issues with Alder Rec Centre Pool Project
- Melinda Davie Appointed to Town of Mono Council
- Ten Nominees Apply to Fill Town of Mono Council Vacancy
- Mono’s Future Councillor Could Lose Pay If Unvaccinated
- Dufferin County Adopts COVID Vaccination Policy for Staff
- Dufferin County May Adopt ‘Vaccinate or Terminate’ Policy
- Mulmur Township Defers Establishing Vaccination Policy
- Orangeville Mandates Vaccine for Council, Board Members
- Shelburne To Implement COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
- Shelburne Moves Towards Council & Staff Vaccine Policy
- Shelburne May Explore Vaccine Mandate for Town Staff
- CDRC hiring security to enforce vaccination requirements
- Alder Street Recreation Centre Pools To Be Replaced
- Town of Orangeville Progresses on Traffic Calming Policy
- Digital Transformation Grant Open to Small Businesses
- Mulmur Examines Municipal Truth & Reconciliation Actions
- Number of Dufferin Cannabis Retailers Could Soon Double
- What’s up for Orangeville’s Council Meeting tonight
- Two Members Resign From Dufferin Diversity Committee
- Vivid Moments, Vivid Memories Art Show
- Shelburne To Reduce Speed Limit To 40 KM/Hour
- Shelburne Speed Limit Reduced to 40km/hour
- Amaranth Moves Towards First Pride Month Proclamation
- Town of Grand Valley Revises Burn Bylaw
- Council Receives Update on Shelburne Splash Pad
- Truth and Reconciliation: Shelburne Calls on Governments
- Truth & Reconciliation: Mulmur Following Shelburne’s Lead
- Grand Valley Council Seat Open to Public Nominations
- Grand Valley Clears Cannabis Grower for Retail Sales
- Cannabis in Dufferin: What’s going on in Grand Valley?
- Grand Valley Councillor Gives Notice of Resignation
- Grand Valley Commemorates Councillor Elizabeth Taylor
- Melancthon One Step Closer to Filling Council Vacancy
- Grand Valley: Abandoned Monticello Subdivision Update
- Another Cannabis Retailer Looking at Grand Valley
- Shelburne Parks and Fields Fees Waived For 2021
- Shelburne Community Welcome Resumes Greeting Newcomers
- Town of Shelburne Re-Examining Land Acknowledgement
- Dufferin Receives Notice of Development Moratorium
- Reports of People ‘Squatting’ at Monora Park
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Current Practices Insufficient
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Dufferin Politicians Respond
- Broadway Sidewalk Brick Replacement Project Pushed Off
- Canada Day 2021 in Orangeville, Shelburne, Grand Valley
- Township of Amaranth Selects New Integrity Commissioner
- Orangeville To Honour Indigenous Children
- Filming along Orangeville’s Broadway this Canada Day
- Councillors Talk School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program
- Contrary to Reports, Amaranth Flag Raising Policy Unused
- Commissioner Report on Currie’s Pride Remarks Released
- Mayor of Amaranth responds to investigation report
- Mayor Currie Doubtful of Integrity Commissioner’s Value
- IS AMARANTH’S MAYOR CURRIE RESIGNING?
- AMARANTH MAYOR CURRIE UNLEASHES HIS FURY
- Amaranth Residents Call Out Mayor Currie’s Empty Threat
- Amaranth Mayor Bob Currie: “All Lives Matter”
- Mayor Bob Currie Protests Donation to Food Banks
- AMARANTH MAYOR DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO RAISE PRIDE FLAG FOR 2021
- AMARANTH’S DEPUTY MAYOR CALLS OUT MAYOR’S PRIDE INTOLERANCE
- AMARANTH MAYOR: WHY CAN’T WE USE THE RIVER TO FIGHT FIRES?!
- Dufferin County Staff: Pay Volunteers on Committees
- Dufferin Committee Volunteer Pay Decision Pushed Off
- Dufferin Receives Notice of Development Moratorium
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Current Practices Insufficient
- Haldimand Tract Moratorium: Dufferin Politicians Respond
- Indigenous names may be used for Grand Valley’s new streets
- Tent Permit Fee Being Waived for Dufferin County Businesses
- Businesses Operating in Mono Parks Without Permits
- Dufferin EarlyON Staff To Be Cut By 53%
- Dufferin County Road 109 & County Road 3: Roundabout?
- Dufferin Oaks Front Entrance Project $94,500 Over Budget
- Contrary to Reports, Amaranth Flag Raising Policy Unused
- Shelburne Letters Signage Pushed Off For Time Being
- Update on vacant council seat in Amaranth Township
- Shelburne Council Continues to Mull Giant Letters
- Plans for Giant Letters in Shelburne Park May Get Nixed
- Shelburne Pushes Ahead on Jack Downing Park
- Dufferin County Council: Responding to Racism and Hate
- Amaranth Council: Investigate all ‘Residential Schools’
- Reports of People ‘Squatting’ at Monora Park
- $800k Dufferin Rail Corridor Resurfacing Project Approved
- Commissioner Report on Currie’s Pride Remarks Released
- See Crime in Orangeville? Call the Police, Not Town Hall!
- WDG Public Health Holds Session on Vaccine Hesitancy
- Lockdown Protest Organizer May See ‘Expanded Charges’
- Bruce Trail Conservancy Makes Plea of Shelburne Community
- Dufferin Muslim Groups Make Demand of Local Politicians
- Mulmur Council Wants Meetings Accessible Post-COVID
- Thumbnail Sketches: Artist Kayla Jackson
- Orangeville Police Service Board Talks Lockdown Protests
- Accessible Website? Fines Coming For Noncompliant Orgs
- Local Digital Marketing Firm Pushes Online Accessibility
- Some Organizations Face AODA Compliance Deadline
- UGDSB Scraps School Resource Officer Program
- Big Upgrades Announced for Grand Valley Community Centre
- Task Force Advises UGDSB Cancel Resource Officer Program
- Shelburne Names Members to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
- MELANCTHON’S NEW COUNCILLOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN!
- Candidates Seeking Vacant Seat Questioned By Melancthon’s Council
- Melancthon One Step Closer to Filling Council Vacancy
- WDGPH: ‘Number of factors at play’ BIPOC 5x more likely to catch COVID
- Andrew Cunningham: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Polvier Folkes-Grandison: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Trisha Linton: Black History Month in Dufferin
- Dufferin County Rejects WDGPH Request for Assistance
- Internet in Town of Mono: ‘No Home Left Behind’
- Shelburne’s Police Services Board – More Barriers Broken
- Township of Amaranth Council Vacancy Filled!
- A New Magazine with A ‘Local Purpose’ is On Its Way!
- Dufferin Marketing Firm Grows While Giving Back
- Vaccines: Headwaters Hospital Manager Puts Family First
- A Discussion with Orangeville Councillor Todd Taylor
- Two cars go off road in a week at Rolling Hills & McCannell
- WDPGH Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- #Shoes4Shelburne 2020: An Overwhelming Success
- Rogers, Bank of China, Anti-Abortion Groups Take CEWS
- Shelburne’s Deck The Door Contest 2020 has a Victor!
- A Taste of Jamaica in Shelburne with Smokey Island Grille
- More on ‘Workplace Isolating’ in East Garafraxa Township
- East Garafraxa Public Works Staff ‘Workplace Isolating’
- ‘Trojan Horse’ Proposed at Fung Loy Kok in Mono
- Dufferin County Councillor Brings Religion Into Politics
- Passionate Outpourings, A Life of Much Artistic Verve & Vitality!
- Shelburne Street Names Will Honour Black & Indigenous Past
- Robert Allen: A Man For All Seasons
- Orangeville Transit Hub Downtown Location Gets Nixed
- Orangeville Council Wants Access to Drive Tests Limited
- NEW DETAILS ON WE CHARITY ‘EXONERATION’
- MP Kyle Seeback Asks For Local Business Nominations!
- There is assistance for homeless men in Dufferin County!
- Dufferin News Contributor Gets 3rd at McMichael Art Show
- My Crafty Neighbour has a space with limitless opportunity!
- New Grand Valley Pizza Place Opens Tonight!
- “Please…symptoms can widely range…don’t assume it’s just a cold!”
- Town of Orangeville Staff tests positive for COVID-19
- Epidemiologist Calls Out Upper Grand DSB
- Ontario teachers, exposed to COVID, may still go to class
- UGDSB TRUSTEE CALLS BUSES “ROLLING INCUBATORS”
- IS ENOUGH BEING DONE TO KEEP LUNCHES SAFE IN THE UGDSB?
- ‘Glimmer of hope’ as Dufferin business community nears second wave
- Through the eyes of a Canadian female collective
- Robert Allen: A Man For All Seasons
- Marnie Cooke: “How do you turn off your ears?”
- Streams Community Hub: A New Age For The Dufferin Arts
- Tony Rose Pool Closure May Decimate Orangeville Otters!
- ORANGEVILLE USED IN MARKETING CROWD CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
- IRIS R&D Group Responds: We Don’t Own FaceMatch
- Orangeville Under Surveillance?! What is IRIS R&D?
- Orangeville Library Consolidation: Who Gets Hurt?
- Orangeville Food Bank Has Officially Moved!
- Is The Orangeville Banner Endangering Public Health?!
- Essential Worker? What’s it actually mean?
- Discussion on Development – Orangeville Councillor Todd Taylor
- Dufferin Speaks – Hansen Development: Discussion with Darrin Davidson
- Dufferin News – Videojournalism For Our Community
- Press Release: Dufferin’s Spotlight Production launches Online Community News Program
- Interested in Being A Contributor? Apply Here!