Woodstock supportive housing benefits from new provincial funding

The provincial government announced a $5.8-million investment for mental-health and addictions support services for supportive housing units across Southwestern Ontario.

All 641 of these units are located at seven Indwell developments in the region, including its two Oxford County sites at the Harvey Woods Lofts and Blossom Park Apartments in Woodstock. The two Woodstock sites will share $750,000 with London’s Woodfield Gate for community mental-health supports, provincial officials said in a release.

“This is excellent news for our community,” Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman said. “Our government recognizes the acute need to provide mental-health and addictions supportive housing to assist people in making successful transitions from housing instability to permanent homes.”

Indwell is a Christian-based charity that, according to its website, “creates affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging.”

The investment, provincial officials said, reflects the government’s commitment to its Roadmap to Wellness plan by providing support to vulnerable groups who require affordable housing and community-based support services to live independently.

The Ontario government has also committed to investing an additional $202 million each year in homelessness prevention programs through its Homelessness Prevention and Indigenous Supportive Housing programs, the release noted. This investment, provincial officials said, brings the Ontario government’s annual investment close to $700 million.