Since the onset of COVID-19, Grey County has been seeing increased call levels to its social services hotline.
“The county has provided additional funding to 211 to support additional staff so that they can stay on top of the increased call volume that they are experiencing,” said Kim Wingrove, Grey County CAO.
The 211 Community Connection is a free, 24-hour hotline that helps to connect residents with community, social, health and government services in their communities. In order to co-ordinate these services, the 211 call centre works closely with the United Way of Bruce Grey and the counties of Bruce and Grey.
“Grey, Bruce and Simcoe have extended our funding to 211 locally to allow them to add three full-time equivalent staff to answer calls for the next 12 weeks,” said Rob Hatten, communications manager for Grey County. “Grey County’s contribution (above the normal 2020 funding for 211) is just over $3,000. The contribution rate for each county is based on population.”
Wingrove says that the county is currently monitoring trend reports that look at the kind of calls 211 is receiving and looking at where there may be gaps in service.
“Currently we are seeing one emergency assistance application for every three full Ontario Works applications,” said Wingrove. “Staff are working through individual circumstances to determine what other sources of income may be available, such as Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance.”
Wingrove adds that despite no longer having face-to-face access with residents, staff are reaching out and making contact via phone, email and text to make sure that clients are supported and their needs are being met.
“The cap that we normally work under for discretionary benefits has been lifted in order to issue emergency benefits for COVID-related expenses to our existing Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients. That is an emergency $100 to $200,” she explained.
