Housing program for Ukrainians in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills gets go ahead
Published June 16, 2022 at 11:30 am
A proposed transitional housing program for new arrivals from the Ukraine in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills has got the green light.
Halton Regional Council has approved the $1 million program that will help provide up to 12 months of housing support for displaced Ukrainians who have fled the ongoing war in the country, the result of a Russian invasion.
The transitional housing program will provide time limited rents subsidies and case management supports to Ukrainian households to assist them in integrating successfully in Halton.
“I think it’s going to go a long way to help these folks that need help and our continuing to arrive in our community,” said Oakville Ward 5 Town and Regional Councillor Jeff Knoll, who brought forward the motion with Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville.
Under its Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel initiative, the federal government has committed to providing only two weeks of hotel accommodation and six weeks of limited income support upon arrival.
The new Halton housing program will identify the Ukrainians most in need who have come to the Region without independent financial means, and have been staying in Halton-based host homes, or in Halton Region’s emergency shelter program.
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Transitional housing funding will be made available to each participating household for up to 12 months or until the program’s end date on August 31, 2023.
The $1 million in support is available through the Region’s allocation of provincial Social Services Relief Fund funding to support the Program, with no net impact to the Region.
The Region will partner with the Halton Multicultural Council in administering the program.
“Thank you to Halton Multicultural Council for agreeing to be the partner in administering this program,” Knoll said during the regional meeting.
“They are a tremendous organization and they once again stepped up to the plate to be there when we need them, so a big thank you to them.”
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