York Region is preparing to wind down some support services for emergency Ukrainian migrants if it does not see more provincial and federal government support.
Wrap-around services and temporary accommodation will continue until June 30, via a tentative resolution passed by the region’s committee of the whole March 9. After that, the region plans to close an accommodation site unless otherwise directed by council.
With support services currently funded by taxpayers for approximately $1.2 million since August, staff said the added services cannot sustainably continue without upper-government intervention.
“GTHA municipalities are delivering emergency services to supplement federal and provincial support to those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. This collaboration has been valuable, but municipal supports remain unfunded by the federal and provincial government,” a staff report said. “ Unless there is clear and sustained funding, continued operations of these municipal supports will be challenging.”
The federal government has the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program allowing Ukrainian residents to get temporary resident status for three years. This was put in place as many Ukrainians fled the country amidst an ongoing Russian invasion.
But without enough temporary residences provided by upper levels of government, according to a staff report, GTA municipalities stepped in. The region hired a contractor to run a hotel site with 20 rooms, with 54 Ukrainians living there as of Feb. 24.
In total, 160 individuals have received support at the site and found other housing arrangements since August.
The $1.2 million excludes an additional $410,000 provided in transit assistance to support them between May 2022 and January 2023. The monthly cost to operate the hotel site is $250,000 monthly.
“Costs in 2022 have been absorbed against underspending in community and health services. For 2023, no specific allocation has been identified for these supports in community and health services budget,” a staff report said.
The resolution also called for continued advocacy to upper levels of government for more funding and support.
