Funding for COVID-19 Preparedness
The Ministry of Health will be providing Homes for Special with funding related to COVID-19. For homes that are licensed for 14 beds or fewer, each home will be provided with $2,000. For homes that are licensed for 15 or more beds, each home will be provided with $3,000. This payment is currently being processed and will be paid to the home. No action is required on the part of the HSC owner to receive this payment.
This funding must be used to prepare for dealing with COVID-19. The funding must be used to assist with the following:
- Purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) – masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, virus wipes, gowns, goggles — we acknowledge the struggle to find sources for PPE and we continue to raise this issue;
- Cleaning and disinfecting – staff costs/contracts to increase cleaning and disinfecting, cleaning supplies;
- Prepare for in-house isolation in case this is required — purchase of commode, urinals, other required equipment, as well as protective equipment for isolation bedroom/space.
If a home has funding remaining after adequately dealing with the above, the HSC owner should contact their HSC Office to discuss the appropriate use of the remaining funds which may include enhanced in-house recreation to encourage tenants to remain at home.
The HSC owners should retain the invoices related to this funding and submit the receipts/invoices, together with one invoice summary marked COVID-19 Preparedness, to their HSC office.
Please communicate this to the HSC homes in your area.
Thank you.
Glenna Smith
Senior Program Consultant
Mental Health and Addiction Programs Branch
Ministry of Health