Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley 
Preliminary steps are being taken to develop supportive housing in Sudbury, city council was informed Wednesday.
Supportive housing describes a living arrangement rather than a type of housing. It is different from social housing because of the level of support needed on site, said.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, services and support include routine hygiene, dressing and washing, daily visits or phone check-ins.
It can include services like shopping, meals and transportation. Residents can also apply for visiting health professional services through the Community Care Access Centre, if required.
Supportive housing services are funded already in the city at four different sites, but there has been no funding for building a separate facility or funding its operating costs.
Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci has expressed support for the concept, said Ward 8 Coun. Ted Callaghan.
"Rick Bartolucci said to approach various provincial ministries who could provide funding to each of the components of supportive housing," he said.
He noted this week the Local Health Integration Network put supportive housing high on their list of priorities as a part of solving the ALC crisis at the hospital.
He added that the new federal budget did have money allocated for housing projects, though provincial support was necessary.
Council was reminded of a resolution passed in December recommending that frail seniors and those who are suffering from debilitating ailments need more help by putting money towards supportive housing. 
City staff said that when it is no longer practical or economical for services to be delivered at home, the household must move to where the services are (supportive housing) in order to receive these services.
This growing population of the elderly and disabled, which make up a portion of the alternative level of care (ALC) population, are falling between cracks in health delivery programs, stated a staff report.
ALC patients are those who no longer require acute care in a hospital, but cannot leave because they are unable to find placement in a long-term care facility, receive home care services or access other supportive services.
"At this point in time, the hospital or a long term care facility are the only places able to meet the needs of the ALC patients," state staff.
