Mr. Leo Meloche and Mrs. Kathy Edwards, on behalf of Leamington Lodge, Seniors Alternative Care and Essex Manor, seeking Council support to review the Housing with Supports daily resident per diem rate.
Mr. Meloche, appeared before Council on behalf of his client Mrs. Edwards, who owns and operates 3 of the Housing with Supports homes the County has contracts with for service. He discussed some of the concerns facing his client, due to the financial implications of Bill 148. He indicated that currently, they receive a per diem amount of $51.19 per day for each resident. He noted that when the cost of operations, staffing levels and all of the services that are provided by the homes are taken into consideration, the current rates are far too low to be sustainable for the operators. He indicated that the per diem rates (provided through CHPI funding) have not increased since 2016 and that the rate is not sufficient to provide the basic amount required to support an individual residing at the home.
Mr. Meloche indicated that Mrs. Edwards was providing a home for residents who require supports for the activities of daily living and some have complex needs. He explained that Mrs. Edward's residences and other housing with supports providers are reducing homelessness in our communities and deserve to have adequate funding to continue to operate.
Mr. Meloche requested that Council consider passing a motion to request the City of Windsor, as the Administrator of CHPI funding for the region, review and consider increasing the per diem
Ms. Birch noted that the City of Windsor Social Services department have been receiving this sort of request from their service providers as well, and that it was their intention to bring a recommendation to City Council exploring the possibility of increasing the per diem.
Mr. Antaya questioned whether County Administration endorsed the recommendation from the delegation? Ms. Birch indicated that an increase to the per diem had not taken place since 2016 and given the increase in the cost of living, Administration would recommend the request for an increase.
Members of Council requested to be provided with the delegation's presentation for their review and consideration. Ms. Birch indicated that further information would be provided to Council as requested.