This man worries where he'll sleep as winter homeless relief program ends

The City of London has not had a response from the province after it asked for additional funding to support shelter programs that have kept people warm this winter. The funding was earmarked for COVID-19 relief services and runs out today potentially leaving dozens of people without a bed. 

Mayor Ed Holder wrote a letter to the province in early March asking that Provincial Social Services Relief Funding (SSRF) be extended. It has helped fund a number of initiatives, including motel room stays, winter shelter sites at Fanshawe Golf Course run by London Cares and at Westminster Ponds run by Atlohsa Family Healing Services, and emergency crash beds. Federal dollars also contributed to supporting the programs. 

"We have heard that the province is still considering the social services relief funding in a fifth instalment, but of course today is the end of March and we have not had confirmation," said Deputy City Manager for Social and Health Development Kevin Dickins Thursday.

The additional money allowed the Ark Aid Street Mission to run an overnight drop in program that's accommodated up to 50 people a night at First St. Andrew's Church this winter.

Willis Chippwa has used the crash beds at the church almost every night and said that his plan is to likely couch surf until he can secure something else. 

"We don't know where we're going, what we're doing, and people gotta stick together," he said. 

"I was working before, but I lost my apartment, so I've been homeless for five years, so it's just been one struggle after another," he said. "But I'm managing it."

Dickens said the provincial and federal funding was not meant to solve homelessness but was a much-needed 'lifeboat' to help during COVID. But the cost of living is rising and there's a marked shortage of affordable rentals in London leaving some working with vulnerable people worried about the options.

"We don't have enough beds to accommodate everyone who needs them without those extra services," said Chuck Lazenby, the executive director of the Unity Project. "So, there is certainly no doubt about that, that that is going to be the situation that we're faced with.

"The end of those programs, we're certainly going to feel a significant gap in our services, and I think that we're also going to have increased pressure on the services that will continue to exist."

Dickens said he is hopeful the province will earmark additional money in the upcoming budget for permanent housing and he says city staff will be advocated for that.

"COVID has really exposed the depth of the housing instability in our community and we're looking for permanent investment to give people housing," Dickens said.