Retrofitting out-of-services ambulances is part of the District of Muskoka’s plan to tackle the homelessness issue.
The district’s 2024 budget, which was approved in Dec. 2023, included $4.2 million to “act on affordable housing and homelessness.”
Tom Fortier, director of human services for housing and homelessness, says about $38,000 of that could be used to retrofit out-of-service ambulances to service as mobile outreach units.
“We can take this vehicle and actually target individuals who are in more rural and remote communities or are currently disengaged from services,” he explains.
Fortier says ambulances are perfect for the idea since they have plenty of room for staff and offer privacy.
There is no firm timeline to introduce the project, but he says district staff has reached out to partners and the reception has been “very, very warm.”
Now, Fortier says, they’re playing the waiting game.
He explains nothing can be done with the project until Muskoka Paramedic Services deems it’s time to replace one of its ambulances then district staff will have to assess it to make sure it’s good enough for them to use as an outreach unit.
He adds an alternative has been floated, too: they could set up shop at fixed locations like a library to offer services on a rotational basis.
“We know that the reach of our services into the more rural and remote areas is desperately needed,” says Fortier.
The mobile outreach program isn’t the only recent move the district has made to address homelessness.
Earlier this month, the district announced a new fund which District Chair Jeff Lehman said is “[the district’s] call out” to developers to build affordable rental housing or renovate units.
“We, at the district, can’t do it alone,” says Fortier.
As of Dec. 2023, he points out that the list of people looking for support from the district is closing in on 100 people with 81 “chronically homeless.” Fortier explains that means they have been homeless for at least six of the past 12 months.
In 2023, he says the district supported over 450 individuals with its various programs and through its partners.
However, Fortier says the district isn’t going to look at the issue “as a number on a list” and will take a person-centered approach.
“We are not turning anybody away from our homelessness system due to budget pressures,” he says. “Everybody that presents with a housing need is going to receive service from our staff or partners.”
The district declared a homelessness emergency in March 2023.
Fortier encourages anyone who needs support to reach out to the district at 705-645-2412.
“If you are in the community and you want to do something, I would encourage you to please visit our engage page, subscribe, and be part of the solution,” he says. “Contact our non-profit organizations working in the community with homelessness and donate your time, your resources, volunteer, get engaged, get active. It takes a community to solve this problem.”
