Important update on Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program in Orillia

Midhurst/April 19, 2024 – The County of Simcoe is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka to operate, manage, and run programs at the County’s temporary Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) temporary facility in Orillia. After consultations with the City of Orillia, the program will operate at 175 West St. S., as approved by Orillia City Council.

With the selection of the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka as the operator, this site will provide supportive rapid re-housing to unhoused youth ages 16 to 24 in the Orillia area as they find stable, reliable housing and learn many of the skills needed for successful independent living in the community. This is a critical part of the County of Simcoe and the City of Orillia’s joint efforts to expand homelessness system capacity in the Orillia area and ensure it remains responsive to the needs of the community. It allows the County and its partners to better transition youth who have been identified as situationally homeless into permanent housing.

About the Orillia Youth Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) Facility

In February, the City of Orillia pledged a financial commitment of up to $100,000 for municipal fees associated with the site development and will waive property taxes for the duration of the program on the property. Funding has been allocated from the City of Orillia’s Affordable Housing Reserve.

Through a procurement process, the County secured a modular temporary housing facility, which arrived on the site on April 9, 2024, and is currently connecting the facility to city services, including water and wastewater. This program will support 10-20 participants within the first six months of the project and 20-40 participants within the first year, which could equal up to 100-200 participants over the project's duration of five years.

A similar temporary structure has been successfully utilized by the County in the City of Barrie on Rose Street. While being operated by Redwood Park Communities as a transitional housing program, the initiative in Barrie led to 18 clients (90% of the participants) moving to permanent housing in a limited period, which is the ultimate goal of this program.

Quotes

“We are pleased that this facility is coming together so quickly to give youth the tools needed to ensure the best start possible as they work to build a stronger future. We thank the City of Orillia and the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka for their partnership as we work together to build up the lives of our residents.”

~ Warden Basil Clarke, County of Simcoe

“One of Orillia Council’s top priorities is helping those in need. The County’s Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program will address critical needs in our community, particularly for some of our most vulnerable, which are youth aged 16 to 24 experiencing situational homelessness. This program will free up space and take pressure off the local shelter system, creating space for those in urgent need and will provide program participants with the tools and skills needed to transition to permanent housing. We are pleased that through this collaboration with the County and its service provider, the Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka, we can take this significant step forward in our collective effort to address homelessness in Orillia.”

~ Mayor Don McIsaac, City of Orillia

“We are excited to open the doors of the Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program and welcome youth during a transitional phase of their life. Youth experiencing homelessness face unique vulnerabilities stemming from their lack of stable housing, often compacted by other factors. Supportive interventions for youth, like this project, not only produce immediate outcomes but also have long-term effects of reducing recidivism rates of homelessness. We would like to thank the County of Simcoe and City of Orillia for their collaborative efforts and partnership in bringing this project to light. Their contributions and planning will create significant impact in addressing youth homelessness locally.”

~ Meaghan Chambers, Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka

About the Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP)

This temporary program is designed to assist individuals, who are facing situational homelessness, to transition into permanent housing within 180 days. People who live in the SRRP units are supported in all aspects of the move-in process, including unit viewings, reviewing leases, furnishing apartments, and establishing connections with on-going follow up supports. During the housing period, residents receive full wrap-around services including mental health, addiction, employment supports and other needs will be provided to these low risk individuals impacted by situational homelessness. For more information and project updates, please visit simcoe.ca/SRRP.

About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.

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Contact Information

Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program or Funding-Related Inquiries:

Collin Matanowitsch
Manager, Public Relations
County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Department
705-734-8386 (mobile)
Collin.Matanowitsch@simcoe.ca

Site/Location Inquiries:

Melissa Gowanlock
Manager of Communications
City of Orillia, Corporate Communications Division
705-330-1951 (cell)
MAGowanlock@orillia.ca

Day-to-Day Operations Inquiries:

Meaghan Chambers
Executive Director
Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka
705-818-2342 (direct)
MeaghanC@elizabethfrysociety.com

Photo Cutline: Site Photo – Modular Housing Facility – 175 West Street South, Orillia. Photo Courtesy of the City of Orillia