Mental Health, Addictions, & Homelessness

Funding for our rural communities is a necessity. We are less equipped with fewer resources than our urban counterparts to tackle the growing mental health and addictions crisis.

The WOWC continues to emphasize its request for the Province that a specific portion of the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding be allocated specifically for small and rural communities.

Small and rural municipalities in rural Western Ontario require an increased and consistent fair share in HPP funding given the specific growing strain in these communities. In some cases, research has demonstrated that the funding delivered is simply not adequate to meet the growing needs in rural areas with respect to homelessness.

The WOWC continues to advocate for permanent funding for the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) programs, through annualized funding and permanently-funded mental health officer positions.

The MCRT funding provides critical funding support for our police forces to be paired with experienced mental health professionals in response to the substantial increase in mental health calls. The WOWC has expressed concerns about MCRT funding and the importance of creating permanent funding for this program, especially for small and rural communities, where these teams have had proven Communities and residents in rural Western Ontario have felt the direct benefits from the pairing of specially trained police officers and mental-health professionals to respond to 911 emergency calls involving mental health or addictions.

Small and rural municipalities in rural Western Ontario require an increased fair share in HPP funding given the specific growing strain in these communities.

Homeless man being checked on in stairwell