On Dec. 17, 2025, Brockville Mayor Matt Wren and City Council held a special meeting where United Counties of Leeds and Grenville officials presented the county’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) investment plan, which phases out county funding for the Co‑Operative Care Centre (CCC) and shifts emphasis toward supportive housing.
The plan proposes redirecting portions of the roughly $3.1 million in annual provincial HPP funding toward supportive housing initiatives. That includes the Supportive Cabins Initiative — a 25‑unit modular cabin community at 1805 County Road 2 East in Brockville, each with 24/7 on‑site supervision and operated under contract with the John Howard Society — and other nearby supportive housing units. The counties are also working with Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (LLGAMH) on a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Brockville, which officials say is expected to open in early spring 2026 and will include HART‑funded supports alongside discussions about adding emergency shelter beds and clinical services.
Mayor Matt Wren reiterated counties officials’ view that, once planned supports come on stream, the system will have capacity to accommodate individuals who currently use the Co‑Operative Care Centre. “The message to committee members from staff was that there is enough capacity and space within the system… to accommodate all the individuals who were seeking shelter at the Co‑Operative Care Centre,” Wren said (as reported by the Brockville Recorder & Times).
The Brockville Housing Partnership, which operates the CCC, expressed disappointment and warned that without a low‑barrier overnight shelter there could be service gaps during the winter months.
Council members questioned counties officials about timing, contingency measures and available emergency options; some councillors said they did not have enough information to support extending shelter funding. The council ultimately approved a motion welcoming the 49 supportive units that have come online this year and the planned additional units, while recognizing the continued need for supervised overnight emergency shelter services during the winter and the importance of contingency arrangements.
Local service providers and residents continue to await fuller details on timelines, occupancy and demand data and how the transition away from the CCC will affect emergency housing on Brockville streets.
