Midhurst/September 26, 2024 – The County of Simcoe has partnered with CONTACT Community Services, with support from the South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic, to operate and manage programs at the County’s Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) temporary facility in Collingwood. Earlier this summer, the County of Simcoe worked closely with The Common Roof and the Town of Collingwood to bring this new program to the town to help address system-wide housing needs.
The County has secured a contract with CONTACT Community Services, with support from the South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic, to provide comprehensive, 24/7 on-site services, staffed with trained professionals. This SRRP will begin welcoming its first residents this fall. Full operating details will be posted to simcoe.ca/SRRP.
Quotes
“We want to thank all our partners who have joined together to build up housing options in the Collingwood area for seniors who find themselves living unhoused. With support from CONTACT Community Services and the South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic, we know that many seniors in our community will have a fresh start on life. A start that gives people the specific support they need to thrive within their community.”
~Warden Basil Clarke, County of Simcoe, County of Simcoe
“We are so pleased that the County of Simcoe has moved forward and selected CONTACT Community Services to operate the SRRP facility in Collingwood. This facility will support seniors (55+) experiencing situational homelessness and assist them in securing long-term housing. Thank you to the County of Simcoe, The Common Roof, and CONTACT Community Services for working together to bring this much-needed initiative to our community.”
~Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Town of Collingwood
“CONTACT Community Services is thrilled to be able to deliver this much-needed service to seniors in need. Collingwood is an incredible community, and we are keen to build out the collaborative foundation with the Town and South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic to ensure the program is successful.”
~ Jennifer Lloyd, Board Chair, CONTACT Community Services
“Being a part of this program proposal was one of the most memorable experiences. Over the last decade, we have witnessed a significant rise in seniors experiencing homelessness. Knowing that this supportive housing model will be available is an integral part of the overall regional effort to address homelessness in our communities and CONTACT is poised to continue our person-centered and community-driven model to help address this need.”
~ Emily McIntosh, former Executive Director, CONTACT Community Services
“CONTACT Community Services is known in South Simcoe for quality seniors programming. Offering this supportive housing service in Collingwood is a natural extension of what the organization does so well. Seniors are the heart and history of our communities. Working with partners such as Community Connection, the SGBCHC, and other service delivery providers such as Elizabeth Fry, is an incredible example of what is accomplished when community comes together. We are excited to launch the program and to work with residents to ensure its tenants are appropriately supported.”
~ Brenda Pufek, Acting Executive Director, CONTACT Community Services
“We are excited to welcome CONTACT to our Collingwood Common Roof and Rotary Hub location as the service provider for the SRRP. One of the goals of The Common Roof, and our shared service approach, is innovation through collaboration, which is being demonstrated through this partnership to support a community need.”
~ James Thomson, President and CEO, The Common Roof
About the Supportive Rapid Re-Housing Program (SRRP) in Collingwood
The Supportive Rapid Rehousing Program (SRRP) aims to provide services, housing and support to individuals who have fallen on difficult times and helps to place them into permanent housing quickly. These individuals are seniors (55+) who have been identified as situationally homeless. This SRRP gives wrap around, in-house support to find and integrate individuals into permanent housing. This is NOT a shelter, it’s a temporary home for individuals as they prepare for independent living situations.
Supporting vulnerable individuals in our community
The County of Simcoe and the Town of Collingwood are committed to expanding support for and availability of supportive housing in the area. Through the County, this expanded system provides capacity to better transition individuals who have been identified as situationally homeless into permanent housing while alleviating pressures on regional shelter systems. This strategy is one of the pillars within the County’s 10-Point Homelessness Prevention Strategy.
Affordable Housing has been a key priority for Collingwood Council and staff for many years. The Town recently completed an Affordable Housing Master Plan (AHMP) in November 2023, which provided the Town a set of 26 recommendations for tackling the housing issue. The Town is committed to collaborating with other levels of government to facilitate affordable housing initiatives that bring much-needed housing to our community.
About the County of Simcoe
The 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.
About The Town of Collingwood
The Town of Collingwood is a progressive community located in the heart of a four-season recreation area on the southern shore of Georgian Bay. The area is well known for its many natural amenities and its rich heritage. Collingwood is a destination for tourism and many business, sporting, and cultural events Collingwood acts as a gateway to the South Georgian Bay region, with stunning landscapes that encourage an active lifestyle, and inspire the local arts and culture community. Downtown Collingwood might just surprise you with 30 plus restaurants, 60 plus boutique shops, spas for relaxing, and live music for grooving…all in the only downtown core recognized by Canada’s Registrar of Historic Places! More recently, the harbourfront area is emerging as an extension of the downtown district. Plans for expanding the amenities and events in the harbourfront area promise to make this a much more prominent tourism destination.
About CONTACT Community Services
For more than 40 years, CONTACT Community Services has proudly served the communities of South Simcoe. CONTACT Community Services is a proactive leader in South Simcoe providing responsive services in housing, employment, and community support. CONTACT remains an active, innovative, and responsive community leader. Today, they have a community office in Alliston, an employment office (with housing support) in Bradford, and community thrift stores in two locations.
About The Common Roof
The Common Roof seeks to lead in the development and empowerment of strong, compassionate social communities through innovative shared services. We are a community-based social enterprise providing sustainable and professional workspace for human-service not-for-profit agencies. At its core, The Common Roof seeks to inspire and empower change in the following areas:
- Encourage organizations to operate efficiently and effectively.
- Mobilize community support to meet local community identified needs.
- Develop and manage philanthropic investment.
The Common Roof is a registered charitable organization based in Simcoe County.
Together, we are building inclusive, healthy communities for children, youth, and their families. To learn more about The Common Roof, to donate, or get involved please visit www.thecommonroof.ca, follow us on social media Twitter and Facebook or sign up for The Common Roof Newsletter.
