Hastings County will work to get funding to create transitional housing in Bancroft.
The County will seek a federal grant of $500,000 to purchase a prefab home that will serve as an emergency shelter and transitional housing for under-housed people in the community.
If the grant is approved, the new unit will accommodate 10 individuals in a dormitory-style building and will include common areas for meals and support programs. Services will be provided by the Bancroft Family Health Team, Safe Use Hastings, Grace Inn Shelter and Habitat for Humanity.
Bancroft Mayor Paul Jenkins says the Town has been working with the County for quite a while to create this type of housing. He welcomes the move to apply for funding and says the County is always looking for new programs to fund these projects.
A specific location for the unit has not been pinned down as of yet. Jenkins says the Town will be looking at various sites once the feds approve the funding. He believes they will have an answer soon, as most applications of this type have tight timelines.
With addiction and mental health issues impacting the Town, Jenkins wants to house people that can’t access it through regular channels. He hopes facilities like this will help transition people into the next level of housing.