Media Release:  TBDSSAB Announces Recipients of the 2021 CHPI Food Security Fund

 June 10, 2021 – The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Community Homelessness Prevention Initiatives (CHPI) Food Security Fund.

CHPI supports the province’s goal to end chronic homelessness by 2025, and to establish creative and innovative approaches to homelessness that align with TBDSSAB’s housing and homelessness plan. The CHPI Food Security Fund aims to provide financial support to food security initiatives in the District of Thunder Bay that help address and prevent homelessness.

A total of $468,281 has been allocated through CHPI Food Security Fund grants for 2021, compared to $350,194 in 2020. A total of 16 initiatives from 15 organizations across the District of Thunder Bay have received funding for food security initiatives.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario, to alleviate the stress that food insecurity has on the lives of street involved and criminalized women through the continuation and expansion of the Barrier Free Food Bags project in Thunder Bay.

$26,610
Evergreen a United Neighbourhood, to support the Evergreen Feeding Program by providing take-out meals twice a week to vulnerable and at-risk individuals and families in the Simpson/Ogden area of Thunder Bay.

$5,000
Geraldton Family Resource Centre, to provide a drop-in food hamper program supplying food security needs to the homeless and at-risk women and their dependents.

$20,050
Marathon Community Collective for the Assistance of the Needy, to purchase and provide grocery cards to clients once per month.

$8,500
Marjorie House, to have food available for women connected with the shelter and to provide pre-made food security baskets to be offered to other service providers for emergency use in Marathon and surrounding areas.

$12,890
North Shore Harvest Cupboard, to deliver a food security program  in Schreiber, Terrace Bay and Rossport providing healthy canned, dry and packaged food as well as gift cards to enable clients to purchase fresh and frozen food.

$28,000
NorWest Community Health Centres, to deliver emergency food hampers and prepared foods to client homes within the City of Thunder Bay.  Emergency food bags/backpacks will be delivered to client homes in Armstrong and Longlac.  Snack bags will be provided to Outreach and Path 525 clients in Thunder Bay.

$21,150
Our Kids Count, to provide meals and increase access to food for low income, high-risk & homeless individuals, children and families in Thunder Bay.

$55,000
Regional Food Distribution Association, to bring shipments of fresh produce from committed partners in Southern Ontario to the District of Thunder Bay.

$50,000
Roots to Harvest, to provide improved food access, food skills and advocacy around the issues that impact food insecurity and to expand service to include regular community meals, and a weekly affordable food market in Thunder Bay.

$12,792
Rural Cupboard Food Bank, to purchase and distribute food and necessity hampers to those in need in the 6 rural Lakehead municipalities and the unincorporated areas .

$50,000
Salvation Army Thunder Bay (Breakfast Program), to provide healthy breakfasts and snacks on school days to students at St. James Elementary School in Thunder Bay.

$12,750
Salvation Army Thunder Bay (Soup Van), to serve hot meals every evening to those in need at 2 locations in Thunder Bay (North and South).

$18,350
Shelter House Thunder Bay, to continue and expand the food service program providing clients with nutritious and varied meals and continuous access to food 7 days a week.

$80,000
St. Andrew’s Soup Kitchen (Dew Drop Inn), to continue to provide 2 meal options to individuals 7 days per week and to purchase supplies in Thunder Bay.

$9,589
Urban Abbey, to continue to provide a warm meal and additional food upon request to 40 individuals per day in Thunder Bay.

$57,600
TOTAL

$468,281

Quotes:

  • “We are grateful to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for continuing to support TBDSSAB through annual CHPI funding. CHPI is used to support emergency shelters, homelessness prevention programs, housing services and related supports.” – Lucy Kloosterhuis, Board Chair, TBDSSAB
  • “We were overwhelmed by the community response to the CHPI Food Security Fund applications of interest with more than $1 million in proposals. We are grateful that our CHPI funding allowed us the flexibility to support priorities like food security with more funding than we were able to provide last year.” – William (Bill) Bradica, Chief Administrative Officer, TBDSSAB
  • “CHPI Food Security funding means providing healthier, balanced food security for our rural clients such as much needed protein in addition to fresh foods.” – Kimm White, Treasurer, Rural Cupboard Food Bank
  • “Marjorie House is extremely thankful for the support of the TBDSSAB CHPI Food Security Fund. Food is the most basic of life necessities and this program allows us to ensure that families in our community can have help in meeting that need in a way that provides dignity and flexibility. This program ensures that Marjorie House is able to help in a way that creates an immediate and positive impact for the families we serve.” – Rhea Starkes, Executive Director, Marjorie House
  • “NorWest Community Health Centres is pleased to receive funds from the CHPI Food Security Fund. It will allow us to focus some of our work directly supporting families experiencing multiple challenges with healthy, prepared meals, delivered to their homes; as well as a significant stock of cool drinks and high energy snacks for distribution during our outreach services and emergency food hampers. Food insecurity is one of the greatest needs many individuals and families in our communities are experiencing.” – Michelle Kolobutin, Coordinator, Harm Reduction & Managed Alcohol, NorWest Community Health Centres

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