LAURIE WEIR

Having transitional housing in Smiths Falls has been cause for “a lot of engagement” since it was announced at Lanark County council on Feb. 14 that they would be working with Lanark County Mental Health to open a new type of housing. 

LCMH will be a tenant of the old Willowdale retirement residence on Brockville Avenue, now owned by the Saumure Group of Companies, for 11 people from the county who are experiencing homelessness – or living in motels. There is funding in the county’s homelessness prevention program in the amount of $296,000 that has to be utilized by the end of March this year.

During a regular meeting of county council on Feb. 28, Coun. Christa Lowry (Mississippi Mills Mayor), who chairs the community services committee, said she has had a lot of feedback on the issue.

“Some has been supportive and positive about the steps this would take to add more housing into the spectrum that’s available in Lanark County and Smiths Falls, and some of that feedback has questions and has identified concerns,” Lowry said. 

She thanked those who provided feedback. 

“As the opportunity has come up very quickly, there is a short window for the funding to be spent in that envelope so it’s important that we move forward, however it’s equally important to make sure that we’re communicating effectively with residents and stakeholders,” she said. 

Lowry asked about directing staff to “implement a robust communication strategy” regarding the project, transitional housing and homelessness issues in Smiths Falls and Lanark County. 

Coun. Rob Rainer (Tay Valley Township Reeve) asked why only 11 residents would be housed, how they would be selected, and why more people couldn’t be accommodated in the old retirement home that has 63 rooms. He also wanted clarification to on-site staffing. 

Emily Hollington, director of social services in Lanark County, said funding prohibited them from housing any more than 11 people at this time, as well as limited the hours of staff operation. 

“Tenants will be selected directly off our ‘By Name List’, so we will work with LCMH to develop what that criterion looks like,” Hollington said, but they will offer this housing to people who have been homeless for a substantial period of time. 

“It will be for those folks who do need more support,” she said.

Hollington said they will work with those they feel will be successful with the level of support they are able to fund at this time. 

She said they are housing people in hotels and motels right now who have little to no support.

“This will be helping them move along that housing continuum,” Hollington said. 

Coun. Bill King (Lanark Highlands Deputy Mayor) asked if most of the people who will be selected for this transitional housing are from Smiths Falls. 

Hollington said that although they have homeless people across the county — living in vehicles, living outside, staying in hotels — this is a county project so people could come from anywhere in Lanark County. 

“But I do suspect the majority of the people will come from the Town of Smiths Falls,” she said. “People want to stay in their home community. That is their home. They’re from Smiths Falls and have lived there their entire life.”

Rainer asked if there was any other funding they could use to fill more rooms as it seems like a great opportunity. 

Hollington said there was no more funding from the province for this project. They’d have to look at municipal dollars if they were to do that, then they would have to add more staff as 1:15 is the recommended ratio in a housing-first model. 

This will be the first transitional housing facility in the county for adults. Hollington said Cornerstone Landing in Perth works with youth in experiencing housing issues, and Lanark County Interval House provides shelter for women and children fleeing violent relationships. 

“We’re a little late to the game in this situation,” Hollington said. “This type of housing exists right across the province and the country. It’s not new. It’s not innovative. This is a type of housing we’re missing on our spectrum.”

There are, however, 530 social services housing units maintained by the country across its footprint.  

The motion to move forward with LCMH to offer this transitional housing was unanimously supported.