City budget: Program that helps tenants stay housed gets second look

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A number of local agencies for London’s vulnerable residents are going to bat for a cleaning program cut from the latest budget.

Ahead of the only public participation session for the 2025 budget update, eight letters have been sent to politicians from agencies calling for funding to be restored to the hoarding and extreme-clean support program run by Visiting Homemakers Association (VHA) Home Healthcare.

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The program helps frail or disabled residents keep their homes clean, including before and after pest control operations. In a letter to politicians, the homemakers association calls it “essential” for homeless prevention in London.

“Low income and vulnerable clients are assisted by these programs to prevent becoming unhomed,” says Amanda Selk, occupational therapy clinical leader with association.

“In addition to causing individuals to become unhomed, loss of these programs also will cause affected buildings where these people live to be at significantly higher risk of causing and spreading infestations and fire.”

After provincial funding for the program came to an end in 2022, the city bridged the gap and brought a pitch forward for the 2024-27 multi-year budget to continue the program at a cost of $400,000 a year.

Despite warnings about the potential effect on homelessness, it was cut in a tight 8-7 vote, with councillors Anna Hopkins, Elizabeth Peloza, Hadleigh McAlister, Sam Trosow, Skylar Franke, David Ferreira and Corrine Rahman voting in support while all others voted against.

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Now that several months have passed, several agencies are reaffirming their warnings of the consequences.

London’s medical officer of health, Alex Summers, said in a letter the health unit continues to receive concerned calls from people about hoarding, and believes the program provides “meaningful interventions.”

The Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex urged the city to pick up the funding, saying  the “crucial service” allows children to safely remain in the care of their parents.

Neighbourhood Legal Services, a law clinic that aids low-income residents, and Life Spin, a local anti-poverty agency, both said evictions and homelessness will continue to rise in the program’s absence.

McAlister, who also sits on the board of directors for London and Middlesex Community Housing (LMCH), said the outpouring of support for the program speaks to its importance.

“This is definitely what I’ve heard from my residents and the city at large, in terms of a program that had a lot of value,” he said. “In cases like this, especially while we’re dealing with the housing crisis, we have to provide these services in the interim until maybe we can get some more money from the province.”

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Though the housing agency has some ability to help its residents prepare for pest treatment, it doesn’t have the resources to intervene with hoarding or provide continuous check-ins on cleanliness like the extreme clean program offers, McAlister said.

Because of a recent push by Life Spin, the budget pitch for the program, previously rejected by council, is being reconsidered on the first day of budget talks on Nov. 21. Councillors voted 8-7 to reconsider funding the program at meeting Nov. 5 with Coun. Steven Hillier supporting the motion.

Trosow, who voted both times in support of the program, said the health authority and Children’s Aid Society are in an authoritative position to make a statement on unsafe conditions, and that support in the community goes beyond those who support vulnerable populations.

“I hope it does give councillors pause to think about why we really need to reinstitute this program,” he said. “I’m not surprised that this has taken on such a prominent position, because certainly the situation on the ground of tenants has not improved in the last year.”

Londoners will be able to voice their opinions on the budget to politicians Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. at city hall.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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