For the next three years the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board will be receiving $16.5 million per year in funding an increase of 197% over current funding levels.

This is to address the issue of homelessness in both the city and area communities.

The announcement came from Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland who, at one time, served as the vice-chair of the DSSAB.

He says has taken some time to achieve an increase of this magnitude, but it will go a long way to address a growing issue.

“This increase of funding is going to just move mountains in getting that accomplished for our region. Its been advocacy work, extreme hard work from the board, but advocacy from the board to government.”

CAO Bill Bradica notes another bonus to the funding is that isn’t strictly for just programs and services some of it he says, can be used for capital projects.

“It will, again, allow us with community partners who are willing, to develop more units of transitional and supporting housing.”

At a minimum Bradica believes the district, which spans out towards the Marathon and Greenstone areas, could use at least 250 units of transitional and supportive housing, noting there is at least 750 people on the housing wait list.

DSSAB is putting out an expression of interest to community partners to respond with a deadline of June 30th.

Thunder Bay Mayor and Chair of the DSSAB, Ken Boshcoff says the funding comes as a direct response to a request of what he calls a “united board”.

“This the effort of people who, truly are in public service, and having elected reps that work as a whole team, its the whole district, that comes together on this.”

Boshcoff adds the real tools are having the financial resources to build housing stock that provides proper housing with dignity for people.