2025 Hastings County Investment Plan for provincial Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding

Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding is 100% Provincial through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ($6,142,600). For the 2025-26 funding year, Hastings County has contributed $300,000 in Municipal Grants to support homelessness prevention programs.

Hastings County received confirmation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) of the 2025-26 Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding allocation of $6,142,600 (the same amount of funding received for 2023-24 and 2024-25).

Current homelessness funding to Hastings County does not meet the demand: HPP continues to be oversubscribed. In an effort to transition to a homelessness reduction focused funding approach and to allow for an adjustment period for community agencies, staff recommend using the 2025-26 funding year as a transition period.

In 2024-25 requests from the community totalled over $4.2 million, exceeding available funding by $1.7 million. Funding shortfalls are a constant reality, which calls for innovative responses. Therefore, Hastings County has partnered with Loyalist College Centre for Healthy Communities to provide an asset map, including investigating alternative sources of funding that could be accessed by community partners.

The recommended 2025-26 and 2026-27 HPP Investment Plans outline a more focused and responsive approach to emerging community needs across Hastings County.

The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) Investment Plan outlines the planned spending in the directed categories of:

• Community outreach and support services
• Emergency shelter solutions
• Housing assistance and
• Supportive housing

Allowable capital service categories are:

• Support housing
• Emergency shelters

If the Investment Plan is approved, Hastings County will release both capital and community applications for 2026 funding in the summer of 2025. A report will be before committee in the fall making recommendations for agency funding.

Recommendations

1. Direct staff to issue an application to community for 2026 Community Funding ($595,751)
2. Direct staff to issue an application to community for 2026 Capital Funding ($800,000)
3. Direct staff to issue an application to community for a Food Redistribution Centre ($500,000)
4. Direct staff to issue a letter to currently funded agencies outlining the final call-out for HPP community funding
5. Fund ongoing Warming Centre operations commencing December 1 and conclude March 31 each year.
6. That Grace Inn Shelter, St. Leonard’s Home, and the John Howard Society be funded year over year without an application process.
7. Direct staff to allocate any returned HPP funds to Housing Assistance programs that prevent and support reductions in homelessness, including chronic homelessness.

An Investment Plan was due to the MMAH by May 24, 2024; Hastings County has been granted an extension to submit by June 30, 2024, to ensure time for Committee and Council approval.