OTF Grant Supports Resiliency and Wellness for Front-Line Workers

Mississauga, ON – On Friday, local MPP Deepak Anand met with the team at Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP) to hear more about the $100,000 Resilience Community Fund received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to fund programming focused on resiliency and wellness of workers providing much-needed housing and supports services across the province. The initiative, which was implemented in July 2023, will build staff resilience and sustainability by developing and implementing a Staff Safety Plan and providing staff with a Mental & Physical Health Support Service Program.

“Congratulations to Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP) on receiving $100,000, under the Resilient Communities Fund to develop and implement a Staff Safety Plan and provide staff with a Mental & Physical Health Support Service Program,” said Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga—Malton. “By supporting your staff, you aren’t just supporting their health and wellbeing but also ensuring the community’s success which will benefit from better quality of services.”

SHIP has introduced a range of programs, including access to the TELUS Virtual Care service, which offers personalized medical support for mental health counseling, virtual therapy, and primary care tailored to staff needs. Additionally, SHIP has engaged experts to provide guidance on specific wellness topics, with specialists available to discuss issues like addiction, diabetes, and healthy eating.

“The shifts brought by the pandemic placed considerable strain on our workforce,” said Lesley Nagoda, Chief Executive Officer for SHIP. “This funding enables us to provide wellness initiatives to our staff, ensuring their continued health and ability to serve our communities. I would also like to congratulate the Ontario Trillium Foundation on four decades of empowering healthy and vibrant communities province-wide. SHIP is very thankful to be able to continue providing staff with these supports and expand upon these measures in the months to come.”

“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:

Ross Harding, Communications and Social Media Specialist

Services and Housing In the Province

416-294-5046

ross.harding@shipshey.ca