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Homelessness in Oxford County

Responding to a recent delegation from the Woodstock BIA, Oxford County Council has established a committee to look at homelessness.

OXFORD COUNTY - Oxford County council has established a committee to look at homelessness in the County.

Warden Larry Martin says homelessness is a County wide issue, however, it is most prevalent in Woodstock. 

"Most of the social services are in Woodstock, it is more prevalent in the City of Woodstock than in Ingersoll or Tillsonburg and it is not just an Oxford County issue, it is a Province wide issue and as along as this pandemic goes on, it is not going to get any better anytime soon."

The committee is being formed after a delegation earlier this month from the Woodstock BIA. Over the past year, the County has drawn on $1.16 million in funding from the Social Service Relief Fund and the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative to move approximately 100 individuals into permanent housing, disperse over 125 annual rent supplements, support emergency shelter and food banks, offer addictions support and more.

Martin says some of this money is going towards the tiny homes being built at 738 Parkinson.

"Those are basically, little one bedroom apartments to try and give a person a hand up. It is costly but doing nothing is even more costly. We do have an issue with homelessness in Oxford County, we are aware of it and we are also very much aware that one group, one organization, or one municipality cannot put a dent in it. It is going to take a County wide approach." 
 

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