DNSSAB Five Urgent Needs

By Richard Coffin

The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is looking to speak with the province about five pressing issues in our area.  

Officials with the board are attending the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto next week (Jan. 19-21).  

Topics and specific asks of the province include: 

• Food Insecurity: DNSSAB is seeking increased social assistance rates, indexing of Ontario Works rates to inflation, stable funding for food banks and community food programs, support for nutrition programs, and a collaborative approach to address poverty. 
• Affordable Housing: DNSSAB is showcasing 182 shovel-ready units and is requesting both capital and operating funding to boost new housing development in the Nipissing District.  
• Mobile Outreach for Homelessness: The Board is requesting $313,000 in annualized funding for a mobile outreach team and $65,000 in one-time funding for a vehicle to provide support throughout the District.  
• Learn & Stay Program for Childcare: DNSSAB is proposing to expand the successful healthcare model to address childcare staffing shortages, particularly for Indigenous-led, Francophone, and English services.  
• Security Funding: A request for $500,000 in annualized funding to cover security costs and additional grant opportunities increase capacity and local health and social services programs and supports. 

“These delegation requests reflect our commitment to addressing the real, urgent needs of our community,” says Mark King, DNSSAB Board Chair. “Behind every request is a human story: a family struggling to put food on the table, a parent seeking affordable childcare, or an individual searching for stable housing. We’re not just seeking funding; we’re advocating for dignity, opportunity, and the fundamental right of every person in Nipissing to have their basic needs met with compassion and respect.” 

King is also on the executive of the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) that will also be meeting with provincial representatives on several challenges.