City reallocates funds to other priorities, leaving $140K shortfall to Essex County’s Homelessness Hub

City reallocates funds to other priorities, leaving $140K shortfall to Essex County’s Homelessness Hub

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

County Council unanimously directed County staff to formally engage the City of Windsor to explore a shared funding solution to support current operations at the Essex County Homelessness Hub and overnight program.

  The decision was made at the June 17 meeting, after learning there would be a $140,000 funding shortfall that would require the operations of the Family Services Windsor Essex administered Homelessness Hub in Leamington to suspend overnight service over the summer and decrease its day program to five-days a week until October 31 if no other alternative was found.

  County of Essex Council also commited up to $70,000 in one-time funding for the 2026 operating year from the Rate Stabilization Reserve, conditional upon the City of Windsor providing a matching contribution. County staff were also directed to work with the City and partners to create a coordinated advocacy strategy to the provincial and federal governments, seeking sustainable, multi-year funding for homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, housing stability, outreach, and supportive housing services throughout the region.

  At the time the 2026 budget was approved, County Administration was under the understanding that around $70,000 in federal Reaching Home funding would continue to be provided to support the County overnight program, which was consistent with prior years.

  The report notes that, recently, County Administration was advised by the City of Windsor that the anticipated funding, however, would not be available to support the County overnight program for the 2026–2027 funding year.

  The Reaching Home funding has been extended through 2028, and there has been no reduction in the overall regional allocation available to Windsor-Essex,  County Council was told.

  The federal government provided the City of Windsor, as the Service Manager for the region, four-years of funding. While Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funding has remained the same, there was a change to the Reaching Home Funding, Natasha Sheeler, Director of Health and Community services, explained.

  A formal request sent to the Commissioner of Human and Health Services at the City of Windsor outlined funding reduction risks. Sheeler said the County received confirmation that the Reaching Home investment would not be available to the County or Family Services Windsor-Essex, due to reallocation of the funds to other priority investment areas for the 2026-2027 financial year.

  In answering LaSalle Deputy Mayor Mike Akpata about what those other priorities have been identified as, Sheeler said the County has not received confirmation of how the City has reprioritized the broader Windsor-Essex needs.    

  As a result, County administration has identified around $140,000 in budget pressures, due to the loss of the $70,000 in Reaching Home Funding and the ongoing need for on-site security at the Essex County Homelessness Hub in Leamington.

  The City and County have worked together to try to find a solution that would allow programs to remain within the approved budget, without requesting additional funding, Sheeler noted.

  At this point, the only option to remain within budget, while ensuring client safety, is to implement a reduced service solution.

  The overnight program can no longer operate 365-days per year, and the administration suggested suspending the overnight service from July 1 to September 1.

  While there is lower demand for the service in the summer months, County administration recognizes there will still be impacts to individuals who rely on these services.

  In addition, Sheeler said funding pressures were also identified in the daytime operations. To remain within budget, Family Services Windsor Essex has proposed reducing daytime operations between July 1 and October 31, from seven-days a week to Monday through Friday. It would return to normal operations after that period.

  Based on historical data, around 19 individuals per day could be impacted by the daytime service reduction. Sheeler said any reduction in service hours will likely shift unmet needs to public and private spaces throughout the community.

  The average number of individuals who attended the overnight program in August and September 2025 was 16 per night.

  Deputy Mayor Akpata said partnership typically means working hand-in-hand; however, the priority reallocation has taken place without the input of one of the partners.

  Sheeler noted the Community Advisory Board is meant to determine how funding is allocated. The County has asked to consult with the Community Advisory Board as part of funding requirements, and that has not been completed at this time. There are members of the County of Essex who sit on the Board and would be aware of the conversation if it took place.

  LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche was disappointed in the communication the County has been getting from the City of Windsor. The County budgets for these programs, and to learn months later that it would not receive needed funding was unfair.

  “I’m frustrated because I think this affects everyone in Windsor-Essex. This is not only a Windsor issue,” Meloche said, adding she feels like the County does not have a voice when it comes to the City and this type of funding.

  She wanted to know the criteria to get that funding.

  County CAO Sandra Zwiers said the County is trying to secure a presentation in front of County Council for later this year, so the City reps can clarify operating and decision-making issues.

  Homelessness is a growing challenge, and there are a lot of pressures on the system, Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey said. The individuals who access these services are some of the most vulnerable, and nobody wants to see services reduced, especially without ample notice.

  That $140,000 shortfall will be annual, Bailey noted.

  The question is who is responsible for the funding.

  “Property taxpayers cannot continue to be the payer for the last resort for challenges that are fundamentally driven by housing affordability, mental health, addiction, income support, homelessness policies,” Bailey said. There are areas where senior governments have both a responsibility and the financial capacity to lead it. “We need to keep calling upon them.

  “Essex County taxpayers are already facing significant affordability pressures of their own, and every additional cost added to the property tax base creates further financial insecurity for residents, families, seniors, businesses, and we cannot solve one problem by creating another,” she said.

  Bailey made the motion that County Council carried.

  In speaking to Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara’s question on the percent of funding the City forwards to the County for homelessness programs, Sheeler noted that it can be asked when its reps attend in-person.

  Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong said Essex County residents are already paying $1.2M into supportive housing and homelessness, and with federal dollars, they are not getting their fair share. She supported the motion.

  She asked who is watching the funding manager, as funds, in the opinion of many, are not being properly allocated.

  Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services, said the City does have to report to the province and federal governments.

  Perhaps the County should be the funding manager and decide how much Windsor gets, DeYong suggested.

  Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke asked if there is funding the County could grab to gather up these vulnerable individuals and ship them to Windsor on a bus when needed. Sheeler said there are individuals who access City services if unable to access services here in the County.

  Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said the overnight program is preventing homelessness encampments from being established in the County.

  Generally speaking, those who live in the County are terrified to go to the city for these services, Bondy added, as it is strange, it is foreign to them. She also believes they are scared to go to the Mission, especially if they are women. It makes sense to support people here, she said.

  She has heard from those who are homeless that summer is challenging to be outdoors because it can become very hot and humid. She also wants to connect with the upper-tiers of government.

  Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers had to believe the average taxpayer is okay with the County having a service in a community for people who need it the most, 365-days a year. He can justify that. He does want to talk to the province.

  Rogers would like administration to present the response from the City to County Council at the July 15 meeting, or sooner if determined appropriate by the Warden. He made that an amendment, which County Council supported.

  Bailey said she sees the issue as not City versus County, but the region versus upper levels of government that are not funding this program enough in any community across Canada.

  Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb supported continuing on with the conversation, “but I think it needs to be made clear…if the City wants to keep the cookies that come from the federal government, then we are going to get to the point where we are going to have to send them the people that need these services.”

  He does not believe it is right that the most vulnerable people in the County are now punished because the City had to have a 0% tax increase.

  “It’s a 0% tax increase for the ratepayers in the City, and who is paying that bill? Homeless and struggling people in the County of Essex,” he suggested.

  To Warden/Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald that was the elephant in the room. She believes those things need to be called out. “That’s what happens when you have a 0% tax increase – somebody pays.”

  Not increasing taxes leads to a service decline. The County is the one getting the service decline, she believes.

  “It’s $70,000. Shame on anybody who doesn’t want to pay that to help people stay out of the cold, out of the heat, to stay out of the bugs, and to be safe,” McDonald said.