Eligible Use of Funding. All eligible operating expenses under the existing SSRF Phase 4 and the Homelessness Prevention Program will be allowable under SSRF Phase 5. A wide variety of services and supports are eligible for funding. Consistent with SSRF Phase 3 and Phase 4, SMs are required to consider the use of operating funding for rental assistance to support renter households who may be in rental arrears and at a high risk of becoming homeless, and to describe how they intend to support this in their Investment Plans. As well, SMs must consider how enhanced supports and services offered through the SSRF will be phased out or continued through other funding sources as the SSRF Phase 5 ends on December 31, 2022. For SMs, eligible operating expenses refer to the use of funding in any service categories under HPP and include but are not limited to: • Continued use of motels or hotels as isolation centres or to support social distancing; • Rental assistance such as funding for rent arrears and short-term housing allowances; • Transportation costs; • Food and supplies; • Enhanced cleaning services; • Non-medical staffing requirements (e.g., enhanced outreach services); • Personal protective equipment; and • Minor retrofits, alterations and repairs under $50,000. More broadly, this funding could also be used towards initiatives delivered through local service agencies like: • Rent bank and emergency energy funds; • Food banks and grocery gift cards; • Community outreach to support vulnerable populations in self-isolation; • Transportation for low-income individuals to get to and from medical appointments; and • Funding administration needs, including staffing. In the event of uncertainty regarding the eligibility of a specific expense, SMs are encouraged to contact MMAH staff to seek clarification. For contact information, please see the “MMAH Staff Contacts” section.
Eligible Use of Funding. Similar to SSRF Phase 4, there are two components of major capital funding under SSRF Phase 5: • New Facilities; and • Retrofits and Upgrades. Eligible uses of funding under the two components include: • Major retrofits and upgrades to an existing emergency shelter, and/or congregate living space to continue to ensure shelter spaces adhere to public health directives (e.g., additions to an existing facility to allow minimum spacing of beds; self-contained bedrooms and washrooms) and support independent units aligned with more permanent forms of housing where possible; • Acquisitions that would be converted/upgraded to provide longer-term housing solutions; and • Retrofit of existing transitional or supportive housing facility, and/or creating new innovative models of transitional and supportive housing. Other eligible costs may include labour, applicable taxes, building permits, legal fees, certificates, signage, appraisal fees, inspection fees, drawing and specification and any other costs that the Service Manager deems reasonable and that are agreed to by MMAH. Please note that all ongoing operating costs associated with capital projects funded under SSRF Phase 5 will be the responsibility of the respective SM. For-profit proponents may be eligible under the Retrofits and Upgrades component, however for-profit proponents are not eligible under New Facilities component.
