Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Office of the Minister
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416 585-7000
Ministère des Affaires municipales et du Logement
Bureau du ministre
777, rue Bay, 17e étage
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tél. : 416 585-7000
December 15, 2020
Les Gamble, Board Chair, Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB
210 Mead Boulevard
Espanola ON P5E 1R9
Dear Les Gamble:
I am writing to provide you with details regarding additional funding being offered to you through the province’s Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF).
As you know, this summer, my Ministry announced $362 million in new funding under a second phase of the SSRF to help protect vulnerable people from COVID-19, bringing the government’s total SSRF investment to $510 million. This funding has helped Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators respond quickly, adapt services, and help address housing and economic impacts from COVID-19 in their communities.
To ensure SSRF Phase 2 funding was targeted to where it was needed most, the Ministry communicated that a portion of the total SSRF Phase 2 funds would be held back to help communities that were disproportionately impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and had the capacity to commit the funding within the program timelines.
As the Ministry has reviewed the allocation needs for this hold back funding, I am pleased to announce that we have approved an additional $176,100 in SSRF Phase 2 funding for the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB.
This additional funding from the SSRF Phase 2 Hold Back may be used for eligible operating or capital expenses, in accordance with the Social Services Relief Fund Phase 2 Program Guidelines. These Program Guidelines are hereby amended by adding to them the terms set out in Appendix A to this letter. If any of the provisions in Appendix A conflict with or are inconsistent with the Program Guidelines, the provisions of Appendix A shall prevail.
The above amendment forms part of your Service Manager Service Agreement effective January 1, 2013 with Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (“Service Agreement”) and any breach of any of the terms of the amendment shall constitute an Event of Default under the Service Agreement. All other provisions of the Service Agreement remain in full force and effect.
Given the heightened need for public health responses and wrap around services for vulnerable households during the COVID-19 outbreak (e.g., mental health and additions supports), the Ministry encourages Service Managers to consider the use of a portion of their hold back allocation for supports related to medical needs, as allowed under the Program Guidelines. Service Managers who choose to allocate a portion of this funding for supports related to medical needs should engage with staff in their local public health unit and other relevant agencies to ensure funding is targeted to where it is needed most.
To receive these additional SSRF Phase 2 funds, you are required to complete the sign-back section of this letter and return it to the Ministry.
You may submit your signed confirmation via e-mail to:
Jim Adams, Director of the Housing Programs Branch Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing jim.e.adams@ontario.ca
You are also required to complete and submit the enclosed simplified Investment Plan, outlining the proposed uses of funding by spending category in your service area. Given the need to get this money into the hands of local agencies quickly, please ensure my Ministry receives both the sign-back and Investment Plan as soon as possible.
Upon receipt of your sign-back and simplified Investment Plan, the Ministry will proceed to process your operating payment (if applicable) as soon as possible.
Please note that for all SSRF capital projects, including those you propose to fund through your hold back allocation as outlined in this letter, you must notify the Ministry in advance through your respective Regional Housing Services Team Lead. All details of any capital projects must be kept confidential until they may be announced publicly by the Ministry. Service Managers will be responsible for on-going operating costs associated with any capital projects funded through the SSRF.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Ministry will implement By-Name Lists across Ontario in 2021 to help connect people experiencing homelessness to housing and supports. Service Managers in many Ontario communities are implementing By-Name Lists to provide real-time data about people experiencing homelessness in their communities. By-Name Lists provide information that can be used to prioritize and connect people to the right housing services and supports in their area, to coordinate access to services and to track local homelessness and changes over time. The Ministry will work collaboratively with stakeholders, experts and Service Managers on the implementation of a By-Name List approach so that future requirements are focused on achieving the best and most cost-effective outcomes.
Protecting the health and well-being of all Ontarians continues to be the government’s number one priority. We sincerely appreciate your efforts to assist vulnerable people in your communities throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and I look forward to continuing to work together to keep the people of Ontario safe.
Yours truly,
The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Enclosures
c. Fern Dominelli, Chief Administrative Officer
The undersigned agrees to the terms of the above letter and to comply with the Social Services Relief Fund Phase 2 Program Guidelines, as modified by Appendix “A”.
Service Manager:
Name:
Signature:
Title:
Date:
Name:
Signature:
Title:
Date:
I/We have authority to bind the organization.
The Social Services Relief Fund (“SSRF”) Phase 2 Guidelines are hereby amended by adding to them the provisions set out below which apply solely with respect to the SSRF Phase 2 hold back funding.
There is no requirement to complete and submit a Business Case related to the Funding. Rather, a simplified Investment Plan for Funding must be completed and submitted before a payment can be initiated.
Full payment of administration fees and operating funding requested through the simplified Investment Plan will be initiated upon receipt and approval of the Investment Plan.
No Interim Report will be required for the Funding.
Reporting on the Funding will be separate from the reporting on base Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative funding and funding provided under Phase 1 of the Social Services Relief Fund.
The Service Manager shall ensure that all information related to capital projects will be held confidential until publicly announced by the Ministry.
The Service Manager agrees to engage with relevant public sector partners, including public health, as necessary on the use of the SSRF Phase 2 funding.
