THE NEWS
NOTRE-DAME STREET INTERSECTION CLOSURE EXTENDED IN RUSSELL
map, red areas indicate full intersection clo- sures, while orange sections identify roads that remain accessible to local traffic only. Residents are also being advised that short water service interruptions may occur during this phase of the project. The muni- cipality says affected residents will receive advance notice whenever possible. Despite the ongoing construction, the Township is encouraging residents to conti- nue supporting local businesses located in the affected area. Additional information about the rehabi- litation project is available on the Township of Russell project page. The Township of Russell has extended the full closure at the intersection of Notre- Dame Street, Ste-Marie Road and St-Pierre Street by approximately one week as work continues on the Notre-Dame Street Rehabilitation Project. The map outlines the affected construction zones and detour areas. (Russell Township) information on homelessness and affordable housing needs as part of a recent provincial government mandate to develop a “realistic picture” of homelessness in Ontario. She noted that old method of looking at the homelessness issue was an annual “count in time” of how many people were homelessness on a particular day. The pro- blem with that method is that many other factors, like the time of the year, whether a person is a transient or lives on a perma- nent basis in the area, whether a person is employed or not, has family support or not, or if other conditions exist that may affect the likelihood of homelessness. The provincial government decided on a “by name” system for community agencies to keep updated lists on homelessness or people trying to find affordable housing. The UCPR statistical list is built up on a regular basis through the social services department’s own records of people in need of housing, either temporary or permanent, and referrals from other agencies that keep lists of people known to unable to find a place to live. “We make sure the list is kept up to date every day,” said Séguin, adding that all names on the list, whether from the depart- ment’s own files or received by referral, are
GABRIELLE VINETTE gabrielle.vinette@eap.on.ca
The Township of Russell has announced that work on the Notre-Dame Street Rehabilitation Project is progressing well, but the full closure at the inter- section of Notre-Dame Street, Ste-Marie Road, and St-Pierre Street will remain in place longer than originally expected. According to the municipality, the closure, which began on April 15, will be extended by approximately one additional week due to site conditions encountered during construction. Municipal officials say updated timelines and traffic control details will be shared as more information becomes available. The project area remains under a full intersection closure, while detours continue to be in effect and may be adjusted as work progresses. The Township noted that, on the project Homelessness remains a concern in the Prescott and Russell region but hope also continues for a solution to the issue. Nadia Séguin is the housing stability coor- dinator in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell social services department (UCPR). She manages the statistical database that the department has built up over several years now on the number of people, both individuals and families, who have difficulty finding affordable housing for their needs or who are homeless for some reason. Séguin agreed during an interview that homelessness remains a growing problem in Prescott and Russell but she also holds out the hope that it is a problem that has a solution. “Homelessness can be solved,” she said, “but the government, both provincial and federal, have to be part of it, to make sure we can build affordable housing.” Séguin’s hope for the future in dealing with homelessness in the region is based on reviewing the compilation of statistics the UCPR social services department has gathered. The UCPR keeps a database of
HOPE REMAINS IN PRESCOTT AND RUSSELL FOR A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS GREGG CHAMBERLAIN news@eap.on.ca
kept in strict confidence and never included in any reports presented to UCPR council or otherwise made public. That guarantee of confidentiality plus growing familiarity with what the social ser- vices department is trying to do is providing extra help in maintaining the monthly and annual statistics file. “Now that the community knows us, we get calls from family members asking for help in finding a place to live,” said Séguin. Statistical results Statistics provide a “snapshot view” of a situation or an issue like homelessness. Depending on the parameters of the informa- tion collected, statistics can determine how many people are dealing with homelessness at a particular time, the age range of people experiencing homelessness at that time, what conditions of homelessness they are experiencing, and other factors like gender and employment status at the time. Statistics alone cannot say why homeles- sness exists. They can help provide back- ground information to assist research into the various possible causes of homeless- ness. They can also help determine if there are trends that may require further research on their causes. Séguin can state one thing that reviewing the past years of statistics on homelessness is evident. “It has mostly doubled and tripled since 2023,” she said. “You can see more families that are in need of housing. The cost of living is so high that people have to choose between buying food and paying rent.” Trends showing up through regular sta- tistical review include lack of affordable housing, “always a complaint,” Séguin noted, an increase in the number of men, of various ages, “couchsurfing” at the homes of family or friends because they are unable to find a place of their own, and “unfortunate cases” where mental health or addiction issues contribute to a person being homeless. Benefits of statistics The amount of statistical information now available on homelessness in Pres- cott-Russell has allowed the social services
CORRECTION In the May 5, 2026, issue of Le Reflet/ The News, an error crept into the title of the article named “A Casselman school comes together to honour Sergeant Éric Mueller”. The title should have read: “An Embrun school comes together to honour Sergeant Éric Mueller”. - Gabrielle Vinette, EAP Séguin noted that the UCPR social ser- vices department does outreach services with agencies like Hawkesbury and District General Hospital and regional paramedics to provide “care kits” to people forced to live on the street. The kits provide basic essentials to help these people survive their homelessness situation. “We are also lucky in having local schools help and also the Ron’s Backpack Project to help with supply care kits and care kit items,” said Séguin. department to develop a 10-year action plan to help guide the UCPR and its member municipalities on finding ways to deal with affordable housing needs in the region. Séguin noted one other immediate positive result from the statistical record keeping. The number of homeless people recorded during the first year that the UCPR statistical study began proved invaluable for Prescott and Russell Victims Services. The non-profit agency was able to develop a warming centre project in Hawkesbury to ensure that homeless people and also seniors unable to keep their homes warm enough during winter had somewhere to take shelter during extreme cold weather conditions. At the time there were 61 people known to be homeless and at risk during winter in the Hawkesbury area. Other municipalities have since also designated warming centres available during extreme winter weather. The UCPR social services department also now has regular meetings with representatives from other community service agencies during which the homelessness statistics file helps with “basic needs planning” projects to aid people in need of help.
Students at Ecole Le Sommet and Ecole Nouvelle Horizon in Hawkesbury did their part to help homeless people by preparing “care kit” backpacks for distribution by local social service agencies to people who are living on the street. The care kits contain essential items to help homeless people survive until conditions change for them. (UCPR social services)
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