GUELPH – Wellington County has received an injection of funding from the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to provide supportive housing services, with a focus on suicide prevention.
“This was funding through the LHIN … to support mental health and addiction support systems in the County of Wellington and the City of Guelph,” noted social services committee chair councillor David Anderson at the Feb. 28 county council meeting.
Since March 2018, the county has received base funding from the LHIN to support mental health and addictions supportive housing.
A report from director of housing Ryan Pettipiere indicates the county will receive a one-time funding allocation of $277,600 to provide additional supportive housing services with a focus on suicide supports.
Pettipiere stated staff is currently working with community partner agencies, including the OPP and Canadian Mental Health Association, to develop an action plan for the distribution of the funding.
A draft plan would see $125,000 allocated to community agencies, while $75,000 will be allocated to the OPP for suicide awareness training. The remaining $77,600 has been allocated to homelessness support programs.
“The total funding allocation will have great impact in further advancing the work already started in the county around suicide prevention and awareness and our overall work with vulnerable populations,” the report states.
