Award-winning Supportive Outreach Services expands with new federal and provincial funding

Grey County is expanding the award-winning Supportive Outreach Services (SOS) program with new funding from Health Canada and continued investment from Ontario Health West. The expansion means SOS will now operate seven days a week, significantly increasing access to life-saving harm reduction services and wraparound support for people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use issues.

The new funding will allow Grey County to grow the outreach team by hiring additional harm reduction counsellors, peer support workers with lived experience, and staff with Indigenous knowledge. A new outreach vehicle arriving in December will enable mobile drug checking and expanded harm reduction education.

"Building trust takes time and commitment," said Kevin McNab, Director of Grey County Paramedic Services and SOS Co-Chair. "This funding allows us to reach people every day and provide the support they need to stay safe and healthy. We are grateful to Health Canada and Ontario Health West for helping us expand this vital program."

SOS meets people where they are to provide medical care, mental health and addiction counselling, harm reduction supplies, basic needs, and support navigating health and social services. A dedicated meeting space at the Safe 'N Sound Shelter will provide a hub for outreach and community engagement.

The program is supported by more than 25 community partners, including Brightshores Health System, Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce, United Way of Bruce Grey, Grey County, Safe 'N Sound, OSHaRE, Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, and municipalities across Grey County.

SOS has transformed how Grey County supports its most vulnerable residents. Since launching in 2021, SOS has provided over 12,000 services to vulnerable community members. The program serves approximately 100 individuals at any given time, many of whom would not access care through conventional pathways.

For more information about SOS, visit:

• SOS Helps - United Way of Bruce Grey
• Supportive Outreach Services - Grey County
• Supportive Outreach Services - CMHA Grey Bruce

To get connected, call 519-379-8743 or email sos [at] cmhagb.org (sos[at]cmhagb[dot]org).

For emergency response, call 911.

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For more information or media inquiries, contact Rob Hatten, communications manager, at robert.hatten [at] grey.ca (robert[dot]hatten[at]grey[dot]ca) or 519-373-1592.