Hastings County Community & Human Services administers Children's Services, Homelessness Prevention, Housing Services and Stabilization Supports & Services. Children's Services plays a central role in planning, funding, administration and operation of early years and licensed child care services, as well as delivering Ontario's Child Care Fee Subsidy program. Stabilization Supports & Services provides financial assistance, life stabilization services, funding for community initiatives that address poverty, food insecurity and homelessness. Housing Services provides community housing buildings located in all areas of Hastings County, rent supplement programs and manages and develops affordable housing programs. The intake access centre processes applications for Ontario Works, Child Care Fee Subsidy and Housing.
Early Years and Child Care plays a vital role in a child's development, as well as supporting families and caregivers. Hastings County believes in the importance of investing in safe, inclusive, affordable, high-quality licensed child care, and ensuring access to Child Care and Early Years services to support the well-being of children and families within Hastings County.
Homelessness describes the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. Homelessness is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, unhealthy, unsafe, stressful and distressing. Homelessness describes a range of housing and shelter circumstances, with people being without any shelter at one end, and being insecurely housed at the other.
In Hastings County we are striving to provide quality homelessness programming and response. With the Coordinated Access System, the BY-Name List, the Community Response Team and the support of The Canadian Alliance to end Homelessness and community partners, together we will work to reduce chronic homelessness in our Community.
As the Service Manager for the housing system under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), Hastings County is responsible for ensuring individuals have access to adequate, appropriate, and affordable housing that meets their needs. Through a combination of rent-geared-to-income units, rent supplements, housing allowances, non-profit/cooperative housing partnerships and affordable housing developments, Hastings County supports the 14 member municipalities and the two (2) separated cities of Belleville and Quinte West.
The Ontario Works Program (OW) supports individuals and families in need of temporary financial assistance while they pursue sustainable employment and achieve self-reliance through the provision of effective, integrated employment services and financial assistance. This may also include providing assistance while they apply for other types of government income.
Basic financial assistance includes;