The association representing District Service Boards in northern Ontario wants a plan put in place for inmates who are released during the pandemic.
Fern Dominelli is the executive director of the Northern Ontario Social Deliverers Association and says too often, people released from prison end up homeless.
He says that’s especially concerning when COVID-19 is still spreading.
“They will discharge them for a valid reason, to make sure that they didn’t get COVID-19, but then if they’re discharged into shelters or into homelessness altogether, they may become at risk, or high risk,” Dominelli says. “So the question is, how do we discharge plan in a way that makes sure everyone’s safe?”
Dominelli says they have a number of virtual meetings set up with ministers at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario convention, including Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.
The Association is bringing resolutions to those meetings. On top of their concerns about COVID-19, Dominelli says the opioid crisis and the lack of mental health services are a common theme among most of their requests.
