County Council Highlights for Aug. 11, 2021

Warden Lauds Olympians with Ties to Windsor-Essex and Black Community ‘Heroes’

Warden Gary McNamara gave a shout-out to local Olympians at the start of Wednesday’s Essex County council meeting.

“We all felt the elation when LaSalle’s Kyle Masse tore through the pool to capture two silver medals and a bronze to add to her growing collection,” he said. “We were just as inspired by the performances of our athletes who didn’t make the podium. We know how long and hard you trained to earn a spot on this world stage.”

The Summer Olympics provided a badly needed boost during the pandemic, he said.

The warden also commended Canada’s Parliament for declaring Aug. 1 Emancipation Day. It is a day with a long history in Windsor and Essex County that is now being marked nationally, he noted.

“It is a day we can honour the heroes – past and present – in our Black community who have kept their history alive and fought racism at every turn,” McNamara said. “Their leadership is helping us move forward and giving us a reason to celebrate a better future.”

County Anticipating a $1-million Surplus by Year End if Conditions Hold

The County of Essex is on track to end the year with a $1-million surplus if conditions don’t change.

A report to council by Sandra Zwiers, director of Financial Services and county treasurer, says those conditions include:

• the favourable outcome of wage negotiations with collective bargaining units;
• winter snow removal costs remaining within the five-year average;
• the cost of social services and housing not increasing;
• no tax write-offs;
• stable returns on the County’s investments; and
• the impact of COVID-19 remaining at projected levels.

Currently, due partly to additional provincial and federal funding, both Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services and the county’s Infrastructure Services Department could end the year with significant surpluses. Sun Parlor Home, on the other hand, is projected to have a $91,420 deficit – mostly due to COVID-19 related increases in staff costs not covered by subsidies.

Sun Parlor Home Staff Rises to the Challenges of COVID-19

Despite fatigue and the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, the staff at Sun Parlor Home in Leamington has remained adaptable and resilient, says administrator Jayne Brooks-Keller.

The home had been COVID-19 free for 172 days as of July 31, she says in a report to council.

“At this time there is already talk of a Fourth Wave and once again we are reminded that we are not out of the pandemic yet,” says the report. Staff at the home are continually responding to evolving events and changing directives.

“Lots of things have changed, we don’t shake hands, we physically distance, we wear masks, and hand sanitizer has become the norm,” Brooks-Keller’s report states. “But, one thing has remained constant: the amazing care that this team has provided within our home for the residents.”

The report outlines 19 measures taken at Sun Parlor Home since the first wave of the pandemic to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. These include screening of everyone who enters the home, on-site testing of staff members and a six-week stockpile of personal protective equipment to be prepared for a full home outbreak. As well, more staff were hired to create teams that work only with each other and residents living in a given area of the home.

As of July 31, 93 per cent of residents, 80 per cent of staff members and 85 per cent of essential caregivers entering the home had been fully vaccinated, the report to council says.

Despite restrictions that make it harder for staff members to connect with them, “residents unfailingly appreciate team member efforts to care for them,” it says.

County Supports Construction of 8 Affordable Housing Units in Leamington

County Council has committed to paying up to $48,000 annually in operating costs so a Leamington youth agency can build eight affordable housing units with funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

The proposal by the Building Bridges Erie Shores Program, which has a congregate living facility for youth in Leamington, is being put forward as one of the local projects that will receive funding through the CMHC’s Rapid Housing Initiative.

The City of Windsor, which is responsible for funding and administering provincial housing and homelessness programs for the region, has been notified it will receive $9.34 million from the CMHC program to create a minimum of 35 permanent affordable housing units. It has until Aug. 31 to send in project proposals.

Two of the proposed projects the city is submitting are in Windsor and the third is the Building Bridges Erie Shores Program (also known as The Bridge) project in Leamington. The Bridge is planning to build a 12-unit tiny home modular project that would serve youth, seniors, couples and singles. The projected cost of building eight of those units with Rapid Housing Initiative funding is $1.86 million.

The CMHC requires the municipality where the project is located to cover any shortfall in operating costs, so the city approached the county for a letter of support and commitment to fund up to $48,000 a year in operating costs for a maximum of 20 years.

Debbie Cercone, the city’s executive director of housing and children’s services, said in a memo to county council that her department will try to find other funding to cover those costs, but “there is a risk that additional municipally funded operating funding would be required” to keep rents at the level mandated by the Rapid Housing Initiative. The program requires that those living in the units pay less than 30 per cent of their gross income for housing.

It’s the first time the county is making a commitment to cover operating costs for affordable housing, says a report by Mary Birch, director of Council and Community Services and county clerk. The report also notes that affordable housing projects aren’t covered by current cost sharing agreements with Windsor.

County council is asking Windsor’s council to support the commencement of immediate discussions on the development of a regional affordable housing strategy, including how it will be funded. It is also asking the city to review their 1999 social housing cost sharing agreement.

County Housing Connections is Addressing Homelessness in Leamington

Most homeless Leamington residents interviewed during a recent survey have been without a place to live for more than 18 months. Half have been homeless in the past.

The preliminary results of the survey by the Leamington Homelessness Project were presented to county council by project leader Alissa Enns, of the South Essex Community Council.

The survey conducted June 14-18 targeted those experiencing homelessness, precarious housing conditions or housing insecurity. Of the 72 respondents interviewed, 31 had no housing. Of the remainder, 73 per cent were worried about losing their housing.

The goal of the Leamington Homelessness Project is to prevent more cases of homelessness by providing affordable and supportive housing to those in need.

One way this is being addressed is through County Housing Connections, which brings together housing supports and services for Essex County residents through the South Essex Community Council, Family Services Windsor-Essex, Housing Information Services and The Bridge in Leamington.

County Housing Connections:

• supports those experiencing precarious housing, including those who’ve been evicted;
• helps them find housing;
• registers them on a priority list;
• does homelessness outreach to find and connect with those experiencing homelessness; and
• provides ongoing support for those willing take part in an intensive housing program once housed.

Those who need to access the service can call the South Essex Community Council Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (519) 326-8629. After hours, on weekends and holidays they can call 1-888-933-1831 and select Option 6.

For More Information

See the agenda and video recording of Wednesday’s Essex County council meeting.