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DEPUTATION BY MEAGHAN CHAMBERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY OF SIMCOE MUSKOKA CONCERNING MOTION 22-G-013, REQUEST TO PROVINCE FOR COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION OFFICERS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTRE
The following Deputation was provided concerning motion 22-G-013, Request to Province for Community Reintegration Officers for Central North Correctional Centre:
Meghan Chambers, Executive Director for the Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe Muskoka, noted that she has been advised by the Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) that the institution would be allocated Community Reintegration Officers and that the Ministry is rolling out the positions in phases. Ms. Chambers advised that at this time, the CNCC has not been given a start date for these positions.
Ms. Chambers discussed the need and urgency for reintegration and discharge support for vulnerable populations as the City is experiencing a housing crisis, exacerbated by increasing rental rates and local shelters nearing capacity. She advised that deficiencies in discharging processes at the CNCC have been recognized for many years by local organizations and that the pandemic has highlighted further deficiencies.
Ms. Chambers discussed the collaboration between the Elizabeth Fry Society and the David Busby Centre which aims to address discharge needs for those with no fixed address. She provided an overview of the Post Incarceration Transition Program facilitated by the Elizabeth Fry Society which aims to increase homeless diversion by identifying housing resources outside the shelter system and provide community-based support and system coordination. She noted that while this collaboration has been successful there are still shortfalls within the system.
In closing, Ms. Chambers stated that members of the vulnerable population are overpoliced and underprotected due to systemic cause and that system failures are faced by the most vulnerable citizens. She explained that the true ...
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