Committee of the Whole - Middlesex County
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June 09, 2020 Page 1 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
Committee of the Whole
Meeting Date: June 9, 2020
Submitted by: Cindy Howard, General Manager of Finance & Community
Services
SUBJECT: SOCIAL SERVICE UPDATE
BACKGROUND
On March 11, 2020 the World Health organization (WHO) made the assessment that
COVID-19 be characterized as a pandemic. Effective March 17, 2020 the Province of
Ontario enacted the declaration of emergency in respond to COVID-19 global outbreak.
The County of Middlesex declared an emergency on March 17, 2020 following the lead
of the Province.
ANALYSIS
Social Service staff continue to provide essential services and respond to urgent issues.
This report provides an operational update of vital work that is being completed to
support Ontario Works clients in the current environment, support for licensed child care
centres and Provincial announcements.
Ontario Works
Ontario Works staff are committed to ensuring that households in need have access to
the financial, community and employment supports that they need throughout the
COVID-19 emergency. The County of Middlesex’ Ontario Works (OW) program
continues to operate in a limited services capacity. New applications are still being
accepted online or by calling 519-930-1013.
Participants that are currently in receipt of Ontario Works are able to provide information
to caseworkers using the following delivery options:
• Outdoor Social Services mailboxes (Glencoe, Parkhill and Strathroy);
• Canada Post Mail;
• Fax to 519-434-9050; and/or
• Email.June 09, 2020 Page 2 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
There has been no change in the monthly cheque run procedure and for OW clients
who we have a home address on file, we continue to mail monthly cheque. For OW
clients who have registered for direct deposit, monthly cheques will continue to be
deposited directly into client accounts. OW clients who we do not have a home address
on file for, can contact their caseworker to arrange pick up.
On March 23, 2020 the Province of Ontario announced a $200 million investment in
social services relief funding which included changes to expand Ontario Works
Emergency Assistance and the expansion of discretionary benefits to support
vulnerable Ontarians as the COVID-19 public health crisis evolves locally and globally.
Ontario Works Emergency Assistance
Ontario Works Emergency Assistance has been expanded for those facing a crisis or
emergency situation who have no access to other supports, including those who are
waiting for new COVID-19 support from the federal government to become available.
Changes include:
• Extending the length of period for which an Administrator may provide
emergency assistance from 16 to 48 consecutive days.
• Adjusted eligibility criteria to provide Administrators more flexibility related to
considering “access to credit” when assessing whether a person has enough
money to meet the basic living expenses of his/her benefit unit.
• The ministry has suspended the rule that limits emergency assistance to only
once in any six-month period.
This means that Administrators may issue multiple, discrete periods of emergency
assistance (where there is a break in assistance between periods), in any six-month
period, based on their determination of need.
COVID-19 Emergency Discretionary Benefits
This Emergency Benefit was a one-time discretionary benefit available in March and
April. It provided emergency financial support to social assistance recipients for special
services, items or payments, at the discretion of the caseworker, to address health and
safety issues related to COVID-19. For example, additional costs for personal protective
equipment, staple foods, non-medical transportation, hygiene and cleaning supplies.
Effective Friday, May 1, 2020 the Ministry extended the Emergency Benefit as a
monthly benefit for three months (May, June and July 2020).
• Singles are eligible for a maximum of $100
• Families are eligible for a maximum of $200June 09, 2020 Page 3 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
• To date over 70 Middlesex County OW clients have accessed this emergency
benefit to assist with costs associated with COVID-19 isolation
Case Management
Ontario Works had an increase in phone calls in the first few weeks when business
closures were announced and there was a lot of uncertainty. The calls decreased when
the Federal benefits were implemented. The caseload has slightly decreased over the
past few months. Individuals who have lost employment have been able to access the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
The CERB is a federal income support benefit that provides $500 per week for up to 16
weeks to eligible Canadians who have been impacted by COVID-19. Details regarding
eligibility for CERB are available on the federal government’s website or
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html.
Existing Ontario Works clients, as of March 1, 2020, and all ODSP applicants and
recipients, CERB is being treated similarly to the way earned income is treated in social
assistance i.e. the first $200 will be fully exempt and a 50% exemption will apply for
each additional dollar thereafter.
Example:
• CERB: $2,000 ($500 x 4 weeks)
• Deduction: $2,000 - $200 = $1,800/2 = $900
• Social assistance entitlement would be reduced by $900
• Therefore $1,100 of CERB is exempt.
For new Ontario Works applicants granted on or after March, 2020, CERB payments
will be treated as not exempt when determining eligibility for social assistance.
However, recognizing that many clients were waiting for federal benefit payments,
delivery partners should not create/issue overpayments for those retroactively
reassessed as ineligible.
While this new benefit will offer temporary relief to the OW system, we are anticipating
another significant increase in demand for OW when these benefits end.June 09, 2020 Page 4 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
Month/Year OW Caseload Temp Care
Dec 2019 401 29
Jan 2020 399 29
Feb 2020 394 29
Mar 2020 392 30
Apr 2020 389 31
During COVID-19 isolation, clients have continued to connect with OW employment
caseworkers to discuss opportunities related to on line programs such as: on line adult
learning studies, Smart Serve, and WHMIS.
Middlesex County employment agencies (Leads, Community Employment Choices and
Next Wave Y.O.U.) have also continued to stay connected with OW clients through
phone calls, virtual meetings and e-mail. Ontario Works staff have stayed connected
with community partners and agencies that support our clients.
OW clients continue to find employment with the majority of full time hires in
construction, landscaping and manufacturing.
Community Connections:
A Social Services Community Resource Flyer was mailed out to all OW recipients in
Middlesex County. Information was shared on Government COVID-19 supports, food
banks, meal programs, and educational online opportunities.
Information resource windows featuring COVID-19 government and local supports have
been created at the entrances of the five comprehensive libraries. Community members
now have the ability to access important information during these times of COVID library
closure.
To ensure ongoing communication is shared throughout the County, community
agencies (Middlesex situation Table, Middlesex Rural Alliance DVAW, Business &
Process Technology group, CMHA and community employment partners) have
continued to share best practices and initiatives with Social Services through virtual
platforms.June 09, 2020 Page 5 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
Child Care and Early Years
In response to the emergency declaration and based on the advice from Ontario’s Chief
Medical Officer of Health to implement social distancing where possible the Premier of
Ontario ordered the closure of all licenced child care centres.
Middlesex County Children Services has been working closely with licensed child care
providers and staying updated on COVID-19 Impacts on Licensed Child Care Agencies.
This includes the following actions:
• Connecting on weekly conference calls with OMSSA, Ministry of Education and
Licensed Child Care Network (LCCN).
• Connect weekly with the CMSM Partnership Group.
• Sending weekly communications to Middlesex Licensed child care operators (this
has been done in partnership with the City of London Children’s Services
Department).
• Hosting virtual meetings with the Middlesex Children’s Services Network on a by-
weekly basis and with the Middlesex Licensed Child Care operators on a weekly
basis. Child Care Operators and community partners are in frequent
communication with families and children.
In the County there are currently 2,012 total licensed child care spaces (includes before
and after school)
Age Number of Licensed Spaces
0-3.8 years 761
3.8 to 12 years* 1,251
Total 2,012
*494 spaces for Kindergarten ages 3.8-6 (JK/SK) and 757 for Primary/Junior ages 6-12
Currently there are 31 children on the child care waitlist and 223 children (139 families)
who receive fee subsidy.
Emergency Child Care
On March 22, 2020 the Ministry of Education announced plans to support Licensed
Child Care Services for front line workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result,
Licensed Child Care Agencies that are identified in SSM’s Plans, as approved from the
Ministry of Education, will be exempt from the order to close all Licensed Child Care
Centres pursuant to the State of Emergency. The Ministry of Education has advised that
the Emergency Care will be provided at no cost to eligible families. The Ministry of
Education has provided a list of those front line workers that will be eligible to access
Emergency Care. Additionally, the Ministry of Education has provided a tip sheet for
Service Providers providing Emergency Care.June 09, 2020 Page 6 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
On March 23, 2020 a communication to all London and Middlesex Licensed Child Care
Agencies to determine the current level of interest from Service Providers to deliver
Emergency Care was issued.
There are four London Child Care agencies that are providing Emergency Licensed
Child Care. Middlesex Residents are eligible to apply. Emergency Licensed Child Care
services are reserved exclusively for children of essential and critical service workers
identified in the Province of Ontario’s ‘List of Workers Eligible for Emergency Child
Care’, who have no other alternatives. At this time Emergency Licensed Child Care
spaces are full, however additional applications received will be added to the Wait
List. The following is the link to access the Emergency Licensed Child Care Services:
COVID-19 Child Care Application or https://www.london.ca/residents/children-
youth/child-care/Pages/Emergency-Licensed-Child-Care.aspx
Emergency Child Care Centres currently available in London/Middlesex:
• Kids and Company: 1480 Richmond St, London, ON N6G 2N3 (effective April 1,
2020
• Chelsea Green Children’s Centre: 250 Thompson Rd, London, ON N5Z 2Z2
(effective April 2, 2020)
• Kid Logic: 750 Wharncliffe Rd S, London, ON N6J 2N4 (effective April 6, 2020)
• Salvation Army Village Child Care Centre: 1340 Dundas Street East, London ON
N5W 3B3 (effective June 1, 2020).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The Ontario Works program and Child Care Services are provincially mandated and
provincially funded programs.
Direction from the ministry regarding Ontario Works service during COVID -19:
• The ministry recognizes the challenges that frontline staff and delivery partners
face during the current uncertainty and would like to acknowledge your continued
dedication to social assistance clients. As the Minister of Children, Community
and Social Services, and the Minister of Health stated, protecting the health and
well-being of all Ontarians, including staff and clients in Ontario’s social services
sector, is the government’s number one priority. In the social assistance context,
this means working together with partners to ensure the continued delivery of
essential supports during this uncertain time and responding quickly to critical
emerging needs.June 09, 2020 Page 7 of 7 C 16 - CW Info
The ministry has confidence that Ontario Works service managers are ensuring
that all clients can access services they need, including those who are the most
vulnerable, while at the same time implementing measures that support the
safety and well-being of their staff in accordance with their broader emergency
management plans.
• Ontario Works emergency assistance and the expansion of emergency
discretionary benefits to support vulnerable Ontarians are funded by the
Province.
• Ontario Works clients have access to non-health related discretionary benefits for
the following emergency items:
Arrears related to shelter costs
Arrears related to utility bills
Fuel and hydro deposits
The ministry has also announced financial measures in relation to Ontario Works
program delivery funding and financial assistance, to ensure work efforts are focused on
service delivery while reducing the risk of staff exposure to COVID-19 during the
provincial state of emergency that began March 17, 2020. The department is tracking all
expenditures related to COVID-19 separately.
Child Care Services:
We are currently working with the Service System Manager and the Ministry to support
licensed child care centres to be able to re-open once the provincial embargo is lifted.
Funding for licensed child care centres is provided from the Provincial Funding
Allocation. Child Care agencies are required to track all funding received and all use of
funding provided during closure due to COVID-19 for a full reconciliation upon return to
regular operations. This information will assist in the future Ministry reporting.You can also read
