Council approves bridge funding while frontline homelessness agencies await new federal program

Following the termination of federal funding, London has agreed to bridge the gap for London's street missions to homeless individuals.

City hall will fill a funding gap to ensure frontline homelessness services can be sustained during a lapse in federal funding.

“Sometimes when things are out of our hands from a funding perspective, we have to pivot and find a way,” said Coun. Corrine Rahman during Tuesday’s Council meeting.

On April 1, a federal program funding support for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness expired, threatening the ability for frontline agencies to deliver services including outreach/meals provided by 519Pursuit and drop-in hours at Ark Aid Street Mission.

The federal government announced a new $125 million program on the same day the previous funding expired, but there’s uncertainty about how quickly the new funds can be deployed.

“To know that funding is going to be renewed, but not having a lot of details puts us in a very difficult situation to find ways to allow agencies to continue their work, recognizing that we don’t want to backfill federal dollars,” explained Mayor Josh Morgan.

So in the meantime, Council approved spending up to $350,000 from a reserve fund to provide interim support to both 519Pursuit (up to $25,000/month) and Ark Aid Street Mission (up to $60,000/month).

The temporary municipal funding will be provided until the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) or other funding from the provincial government or federal government is realized.

The Ark has been operated London’s only seven-day-a-week open door emergency service outside regular business hours, but services at 696 Dundas St. were scaled back this week to just four hours per day (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) because it was only being funded with donations.

During the reduced hours, unhoused Londoners can still access meals, showers, clothing, and advocacy.