County may have to dip into reserves to pay for homeless program

Essex County Civic Centre.

Essex County councillors are pointing a direct finger at the City of Windsor when it comes to funding for the homeless.

Director of health and community services Natasha Sheeler said that the county was recently notified there will be a shortfall of about $70,000. She stated that during the June 17 meeting of county council.

Sheeler made a recommendation that due to the lack of funding, that the county stop operating an overnight program for the homeless for 60 days from July 1 to Sept. 1.

The City of Windsor receives federal funding for homeless programs and determines, as the regional service provider, how much will be given to the county.

“We haven’t been provided with confirmation of how the city as the service provider has prioritized the broader Windsor-Essex needs,” said Sheeler.

Several county councillors criticized the city for not providing enough funding and LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche said that the county was notified in May.

“I’m frustrated because I think they (city) are forgetting this effects everyone in Windsor-Essex. This isn’t only a Windsor problem,” said Meloche.

Essex County increased its funding for homelessness programs by $424,187 in 2026 and currently commits to $1.2 million annually.

LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata said when it comes to how much of the federal money the county receives, the county does not have a say.

“Partnerships usually mean working hand-in-hand. Priorities have been set by a partner (Windsor) but has not been articulated to the other partner (county) and a program is going to change fundamentally even though we are still in this partnership,” said Akpata.

Cutting overnight stays at the homeless shelter in Leamington could be staved off if a motion by Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey, which was adopted unanimously, is reciprocated by the city. Her motion was that the county dips into its reserves to ensure the shelter is open and requested administration to contact the city and see if they would also put in $70,000.

“Taxpayers can’t continue to be the payer and the last resort for challenges that are fundamentally driven by housing affordability,” said Bailey.

Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald said she had spoken to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and that he said that if the county can tell him where the $70,000 could come from, he would be happy to give it to the county.

Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke suggested that if the city was not going to send money to the county, than perhaps the county should put those vulnerable individuals on a bus and send them to Windsor where they can get the necessary services.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said that homeless individuals in the county are too scared to go to the city.

“We’ve heard city councillors on the radio snubbing county folks and saying they don’t want them there,” said Bondy.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue said not having the homeless programs in place would not be humane and said in this particular case, the city is not making enough money.

“It’s not the kind of city I’d want to live in and I am glad I don’t,” said Prue.

Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb says the county needs to keep pushing the city for the federal dollars. He agreed with Verbeke in that if Windsor wants to keep the money, than the homeless should go to the city to get the services.

“If the city is the manager, they get to decide what they will do with the money based on the need. We have a need in the county,” said Gibb.

Gibb went on to say, and it was echoed by MacDonald, that the city is eager to have a zero per cent tax increase.

“I just don’t think it’s right that the most vulnerable people in our county are now punished because the city had to have a zero per cent tax increase,” said Gibb.

County CAO Sandra Zwiers said there have been talks over the years with the city with regards to transparency when it comes to decision making. She also said that the city has been asked to attend a county council meeting to clarify operational and decision-making issues.

County may have to dip into reserves to pay for homeless program

By Fred Groves