After taking March off, the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee will gather again to consider some key topics. Don’t worry about the regular reports department by department, this meeting will focus on individual projects like the new transitional housing at 65 Delhi Street, and a couple of new proposals to address funding gaps in community health and local food security. For more information, let’s get into the preview below…
NOTE: This meeting takes place at 1 pm in the Guthrie Room at the Wellington County Administration Building on Woolwich Street.
One Year Update of 65 Delhi Transitional Housing – It’s been about a year since the transitional housing facility owned by Wellington County opened in Guelph’s east end, so how’s it been going? Eric Philip, CEO of Thresholds Support, will present to committee a look at the last 12 months of work at 65 Delhi, the make-up of the people being helped out there, and the various ways they’ve received assistance. There will also be an additional presentation from Clarence Cachagee, Founder of Crow Shield Lodge and Indigenous Community Educator, who is one of the partners at 65 Delhi.
Paramedic Services Year-end 2025 Budget Monitoring Report – The numbers have been finalized, and it turns out that GWPS ran a deficit of $1.3 million last year split between $1.1 million for the City of Guelph and $650,000 for the County of Wellington. The cause? Higher than expected staffing costs, including surges in overtime and sick leave in the fourth quarter, along with some smaller operating pressures like maintenance, fuel and consulting. The report also notes that the Community Paramedicine program ran a small deficit of its own due to stagnant provincial funding.
Financial Statements as of March 31, 2026 – It’s the end of the first quarter of the year, but it seems that the spreadsheets weren’t ready in time for the publishing of the agenda.
100 per cent County Discretionary Funding Request for Sanguen Community Health Van – Since the last time the Sanguen Van came to the County for funding in the fall of 2023, they got new funding through the Health Canada Emergency Treatment Fund. But the van has now reached the end of that funding, so County staff are proposing a $188,800 municipal contribution for May–December 2026 and an ongoing annual commitment of up to $283,187 starting in 2027, with the condition that at least 75 per cent of any future external funding be directed to County services to offset costs. The funding for this year will be covered out of reserves, but if the County proceeds with funding next year, then that will have to be a included in the tax-supported budget.
100 per cent Municipal Discretionary Funds to Address Food Insecurity – The committee will look at this from a couple of angles. First, they will consider covering the cost of Tuesday, Thursday and Friday meals at Stepping Stone where their presently is none due to a lack of funding, and then they will look at a Wellington County Food Security Pilot that could launch by June 1. The pilot will “directly provide individuals with two non-perishable food boxes on Monday and Friday each week, building on current food security programmes offered in the County, including the Community Health Van services.” The meals at Stepping Stone will cost $35,450 for this year and then $80,615 in 2027, while the pilot will cost $114,000.00 for this year and and $192,000 for 2027.
Guelph Politico 