Community Resources

What is "affordable housing"?

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) uses a 30% cost-to-income ratio to measure housing affordability.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) capital and operating funding programs use 80% of the Average Market Rent by unit size.

Affordable Housing Program in Leeds and Grenville:

• Affordable Housing Rental Units
• Homeownership Program
• Ontario Renovates Program
• Housing Allowance Programs
• Secondary Suites Programs
• Subsidized Housing/Special Housing Needs

Further information can be found on Leeds and Grenville website at:

https://www.leedsgrenville.com/en/services/affordable-housing.aspx?_mid_=27381

To apply for affordable housing programs, contact:

Phone: 613-342-3840 ext. 2450

Toll free: 1-800-267-8146 

The Child & Youth Wellness centre offers counselling through Brockville, Elgin, Gananoque, Kemptville, and Prescott offices. Their psychologist, psychiatrist, and behavioural pediatrician can identify high need/risk cases and provide consultation to other professionals.

Other services offered at the Youth and Child Wellness Centre are:

• Day treatment in local schools provides classroom environment for children with severe mental health issues 
• Intensive services: in-home and in-school support to prevent intrusive out-of-home and out-of-school placement 
• Community mental health: psychologists, child and youth counsellors and social workers 

For more information contact:

Telephone: 613-498-4844 or 1-800-809-2494
Fax: 613-498-2402
Postal address: 779 Chelsea Street, Suite BU, Brockville, ON K6V 6J8
e-mail: cywc@recorder.ca

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville provides emergency housing for the area. When a vulnerable individual is identified, supporting organizations are contacted and staff from these organizations make contact with the individual to explain and offer available resources. Participation in these programs is completely voluntary.

There are a number of programs funded through Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative in Leeds and Grenville that are spread across the housing continuum.

Five short-term emergency shelters are available in Brockville and Prescott. For information please call 613-342-3840 or toll free 1-800-267-8146 extension 2119.

Two emergency youth shelters (one in Kemptville and one in Prescott) are managed by Connect Youth.

The Homelessness Prevention Benefit helps persons who are homeless to obtain and maintain suitable housing. It can also help people who are at risk of homelessness to stay housed. For homeless persons, the benefit might be the last month's rent deposit or utility hook-up fees. People at risk of losing their accommodations might get help with rent or utility arrears. The Homelessness Prevention Benefit can only be offered once in two years. Therefore the housing must be maintainable for at least two years.

Before you apply for money owed for utilities, you must apply for Winter Warmth and/or Low-Income Energy Assistance Program first. You also need to try to make a payment agreement with the utility company.

For contact information, program descriptions, forms and eligibility criteria click here.

Resource Contact Information:

Ontario Works
Community and Social Services Division
25 Central Avenue West, Suite 200
Brockville, ON K6V 4N6
Phone: 613-342-3840 ext. 2119
Toll Free: 1-800-267-8146

Leeds & Grenville Interval House
Emergency Shelter for Women & Children who have Experienced Violence
Crisis Line: 613-342-8815
Toll free: 1-800-267-4409
Email: info@intervalhouse.ca 
Business: 613-342-4724
Fax: 613-342-4013

Youth Shelters (Ages 12-25)
Connect Youth
Phone: 613-918-0173 (call or text)
Email: robyn.holmes@jhskd.ca

If you or someone you know is in need of help with a housing crisis, please reach out to any of the above-mentioned resources, or contact the municipality at 613-925-2812.

The Leeds & Grenville Community Services Sub-Office is located at 360 King Street West in Prescott and administers social assistance through "Ontario Works" services.

Click here to view their provincial website.

The Community Services office is where you'll find:  

• Income support
• Employment support
• Community placement
• Employment placement
• Family Support Unit
• Child Care Unit
• Fraud Unit
• Ambulance
• Social housing
• Child services
• Early Years Centre
  • Prescott Site: located in TR Leger School, 490 Jessup St. (Hyde Street entrance), Prescott

24-7 Crisis Line 1-866-281-2911

Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (formerly known as the Leeds and Grenville Rehabilitation & Counselling Services) is a community-based mental health program. Their priority is to persons with severe mental illness and/or mental health problems.

Programs and services include:

• Community Addictions Services
• Case Management
• Housing Services
• Drop-in Centre
• Social Recreation
• Family and Caregiver Support
• Counselling  

This organization provides services to persons at their home and through community settings in the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville areas.

The Prescott Office location can be found at 1652 County Road 2, Prescott, Ontario and they can be reached at 613-925-5940. More information can also be found here.

Our local Ontario Provincial Police detachment features a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT).

The MCRT is a program that includes an officer partnered with a crisis worker from the Brockville General Hospital. They respond to all types of crisis calls in the area, and are usually available Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the 24/7 Crisis Line 613-345-4600 or 1-866-281-2911.

The South Grenville Food Bank opened its doors in 2002 with a vision and dream to help individuals and families in need.

They serve three townships in South Grenville: Augusta, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Prescott.

The South Grenville Food Bank relies mainly on volunteers, donors, grants, and the community to operate. Their locations and hours of operations are as follows: 

For additional information on supports and programs, please visit sgfoodbank.ca.

September 30th, 2021, marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Annually, we recognize this day as an opportunity to honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.

To create a deeper understanding of our world, we must learn, educate and listen.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) published its final report which serves to create a historical record of the residential school system, educate people about the history and legacy of the residential schools system and to foster reconciliation and healing.

• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
• Learn about the work of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day occurs annually on September 30^th and serves as a day to have meaningful conversations regarding all aspects of Residential Schools. It is a day to remember, honour and to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day.

Learning Resources

• There are several resources available at the Prescott Library that can serve as tools for recognizing, learning and listening to the stories and lessons of Indigenous culture.
• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Begin your learning journey here
• List of 108 books written by Indigenous writers (CBC)

The United Way Leeds and Grenville helps children, families, and communities break the cycle of poverty by empowering people of all ages to dream, aspire and achieve. 

More information can be found on their website, please visit: www.uwlg.org

Contact:

42 George Street,
Brockville, ON 
K6V 5V7

Telephone: 613--342-8889
Email: info@uwlg.org

The United Way of Leeds and Grenville wants to know what you think! Complete the Community Conversations Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9BLYVLJ 

The Town of Prescott Council has endorsed a resolution declaring intimate partner violence and violence against women an epidemic.

The Town of Prescott Council recognizes the issues of violence in rural communities as serious to the health and wellness of local families. The Town of Prescott declares IPV/VAW an epidemic as per recommendation #1 of the Renfrew County Coroner’s jury recommendations. 

The goal is the prevention of violence in our community and supporting victims of crime. If you or someone you know is struggling, many places can help. Please report these incidences to police.

Resources

Victim Services Leeds and Grenville https://www.vslg.ca/

Leeds & Grenville Interval House https://lgih.ca/contact-us/

The Assault Response & Care Centre (ARCC) of Leeds & Grenville provides inclusive services to all youth and adults who have been victims of or affected by sexual assault and/or domestic violence. https://arc-c.ca/community-resources-c24.php

Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville Addictions & Mental Health https://llgamh.ca/ - 1-866-499-8445

For additional support after hours you may contact:

Mental Health Crisis Team – 1-866-281-2911

Assaulted Women’s Hotline – 1-866-863-0511

Male Survivors of Sexual Assault Provincial Crisis Line – 1-866-887-0015

The St. Lawrence-Rideau Immigration Partnership brings together various organizations dedicated to enhancing the local community’s ability to welcome, support, and integrate immigrants. Through collaboration with over 25 community agencies and led by two staff members, the partnership extends its reach across the 10 municipalities and 3 partner communities within the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Since its inception in 2010, this initiative, supported by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, has been instrumental in promoting cultural diversity and fostering a welcoming environment. It is one of eighty-seven similar partnerships operating nationwide.

The St. Lawrence – Rideau Immigration partnership is a multi-sector, community-driven collaborative committed to building local capacity to attract, settle, and integrate immigrants in Leeds and Grenville through research, service coordination and planning, and advancing opportunities to create welcoming communities.

Prescott Community Grants are intended to support not-for-profit organizations serving Town residents. The Town of Prescott provides these grants in order to assist groups with the delivery of services, which work to reduce social, economic or physical disadvantage, and / or improve the quality of life for residents.  

2025 Intake #1 is now open. The application package can be accessed by clicking the link below.

Community Grants Program 2025 Application Package Intake #1

Application Process Overview

• The application for this in-take period is due December 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• It must be received by drop off, email, or mail.
  
  
• Applications will be reviewed for completeness, accuracy and compliance with these guidelines. Incomplete applications will be returned with a list of additional information required.
  
  
• Applications will be presented by staff to the 2025 Community Grants Working Group for consideration and evaluation. Assessing applications against the eligibility and evaluation criteria, the group will prioritize recommendations.
  
  
• Recommendations will be forwarded to Council for consideration.
  
  
• Community Grant awards may be reduced in value, at the discretion of Council, in order to support a wider range of applicants.
  
  
• Notification to every applying organization will follow.
  
  
• Funds for this intake must be spent by December 31, 2025

Did you know the Town of Prescott Community Improvement Plan (CIP) offers grants and loans to Prescott business and property owners? 

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a revitalization tool that allows a municipality to direct funds and implement policy initiatives toward specifically defined project areas. Section 28 of the Planning Act gives municipalities that have enabling policies in their official plans the ability to prepare Community Improvement Plans.  CIP’s are intended to encourage rehabilitation initiatives and/or stimulate development. Once implemented, the plan allows municipalities to provide tax assistance, grants, or loans to assist in the rehabilitation of lands and/or buildings within the defined Community Improvement Project Area(s).

The Town of Prescott's CIP provides grants/loans to property/business owners, under four categories in distinct geographical project areas.

1. RiverWalk District and Downtown Core Area
   This area is located in the Downtown Core and includes all businesses/commercial properties located within the Prescott Business Improvement Area boundaries.

   Note: All proposed improvements under this category, must adhere to the Town of Prescott's approved Downtown Design Guidelines.
   
   
2. Employment Area
   This area is located north of the CN Railway, south of Highway 401 and west of Edward Street to the Town limits exclusive of the northern residential area and the Sandy Hill cemetery. It is the area which includes most of Prescott’s industrial and manufacturing industries and is a vital component of future growth in Prescott.
   
   
3. Heritage Conservation Area
   Designated heritage buildings located in the downtown core and in the residential district south of the railway corridor.
   
   
4. Brownfield Area
   Known or suspected Brownfield properties located throughout Prescott. 

For more information, please view the Application Guide, Community Improvement Plan and Application Forms below.

Application Guide
Community Improvement Plan

Application Forms

CIP Application: Riverwalk-District-Downtown-Core
CIP Application: Heritage Conservation Area
CIP Application: Employment-Area
CIP Application: Brownfields

Application Submission

By email: dvalentyne@prescott.ca

In person/by mail: Town of Prescott, Economic Development Department
Attention: Dana Valentyne, Economic Development Officer
360 Dibble Street West
P.O. Box 160
Prescott, ON
K0E 1T0

CF Grenville is a community-based, nonprofit organization funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Their mission is investing in jobs, businesses and innovation in our community.

https://www.cfgrenville.ca/

197 Water Street
Suite 405
Prescott, ON
K0E 1T0

Phone: 613-925-4275
Email: info@cfgrenville.ca