Kawartha Lakes considers local housing support

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: City council is re-evaluating how it delivers housing support, through the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) program, after calls to expand eligibility in order to include people living with disabilities. The issue came back to the forefront, at the July 20th Council meeting, as members reviewed a detailed staff report addressing financial and administrative implications of expanding the program.

Currently, the COHB in Kawartha Lakes prioritizes three groups: survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, individuals experiencing homelessness, and seniors. These priorities were established in 2020, due to provincial funding constraints and demonstrated local need.

However, recent advocacy, sparked by a deputation from Diane Engelstead, in January, has prompted Council to ask whether people with disabilities should be added to the list. Council passed a motion referring the matter to the Joint Advisory Committee for Housing and Social Services, which later recommended against any changes to the current priority groups, before the program ends in March 2026.

In response to follow-up questions, from Council in April, Director of Human Services, Cheryl Faber presented a report explaining the challenges of expanding the program without additional funding from the province.

“There’s simply not enough funding to support additional groups, without reducing the support available to those already prioritized,” Ms. Faber explained. “We’re receiving just over $250,000 a year, and the demand continues to exceed what we can provide.”

The report noted, verifying disability status could be difficult, especially given more than 2.5 million Ontarians do not currently have a family doctor. “We would have to rely on self-reporting,” said Ms. Faber, “which presents both ethical and practical challenges.”

While no changes will be made to the COHB, in the short term, the report suggests Council could consider creating a new, locally funded portable housing benefit in future budgets to fill the gap.

“This could give us the flexibility to support more people, without compromising those already in greatest need,” said Councillor Mike Perry.

A joint letter, from the Mayor of Kawartha Lakes and the Warden of Haliburton County, has already been sent to the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Children, Community and Social Services, urging more funding for small municipalities.

Staff are expected to return to Council with additional updates, before the end of the second quarter of 2025.