Queen’s Park come through with infrastructure funding for four Oshawa-based community agencies

Four community agencies delivering “critical social and community programs” will be on the receiving end of $665,300 from Queen’s Park for infrastructure improvements.

The funding will help ensure that buildings housing Frontenac Youth Services, Grandview Children’s Centre, Kerry’s Place Autism Services and Boys and Girls Club of Durham (all located in Oshawa) “continue to be accessible” so the agencies can continue providing vital services for people with developmental disabilities, victims of domestic violence and children with special needs and mental health needs.

“Local community agencies play a key role in delivering services to vulnerable families, women, and children and I am proud that we are making the necessary investments to enable local service providers to continue to do their important work, as many are relying on support during these challenging times,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Finance Minister and the MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge.

Through the annual Partner Facility Renewal program, the Ontario government is investing a total of $18.5 million in 198 community agencies. Agencies will use the funding for repairs and upgrades to roofing, windows, security systems, and fire alarms, electrical, mechanical, HVAC and plumbing systems.

“Supporting infrastructure repairs for community agencies is an important part of ensuring that people can continue to safely access the services they depend on,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “These spaces are vital for people with developmental disabilities, women and children experiencing domestic violence, Indigenous people, and children with special needs and this investment alleviates pressures so that staff can focus on doing their work.”

There are more than 70,000 adults with a developmental disability in Ontario and about 19,000 will receive residential supports in communities across the province in 2021-22.

In 2019-20, more than 110,000 children and youth received rehabilitation services (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech-language pathology) through Children’s Treatment Centres in community-based settings.