Northumberland County’s community and social services department made significant progress in 2024, as reported by director Glenn Dees at a recent county council meeting.
Key achievements span various divisions, including customer service, housing, and homelessness outreach.
The customer service unit continued to provide crucial administrative support, averaging 515 in-person visits each month while managing over 1,000 ongoing social assistance appointments. Ontario Works made notable advancements with the launch of electronic document management, moving more than 50 per cent of clients to paperless communications. Additionally, the department introduced a centralized intake process and held a successful identification and wellness clinic.
The Early Years team expanded Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care spaces, benefitting numerous families in the region. In 2024, EarlyON Child and Family Centres recorded 18,064 child visits and 12,580 visits from parents and caregivers.
On the housing front, the county achieved major milestones, including the completion of Elgin Park Phase 1 and the acquisition of 129 Kent Street for transitional housing. Other key housing projects are in the works, including a planned 66-unit development at 473 Ontario St., Cobourg. Over the year, 60 households were housed from the rent-geared-to-income waiting list, and 315 households received rental subsidies.
The homelessness outreach team played a critical role in addressing housing insecurity, recording 288 outreach interactions from May to December. The team helped 71 individuals secure permanent housing, facilitated the opening of the 310 Division St. emergency shelter, and dissolved the Brookside encampment.
The county’s ongoing work in social services continues to support and uplift vulnerable residents, with additional community partnerships and housing projects slated for 2025.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
