OCSA Statement - Ontario Fall Economic Statement 2021
November 16, 2021
The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is calling on the Ford Government to do more to support the more than one million vulnerable Ontarians relying on Community Support Services after the release of last week’s Fall Economic Statement which did not provide an investment for these important services.
The Ontario Government announced an injection of $548.5 million over three years specifically for the expansion of home care services to support client’s post-hospitalization. This funding is long overdue, and more is required to ensure that critical home care services can continue.
However, home and community care services can do more. While Ontario hospitals and long-term care homes are still under tremendous pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Support Services play a critical role in providing much needed support to the health care system by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and delaying admission into long-term care. These services include programs such as Meals on Wheels©, Adult Day Programs, Attendant Care services, assisted living and respite care that all allow vulnerable individuals to continue to live independently and safely in their homes and communities.
Like other parts of the health care system, Community Support Services have seen increased demand and increase costs due to the pandemic.
Community support services are provided by not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to support the most vulnerable in our society with services they are unable to access elsewhere. Without crucial new investments, many of these organizations will be left with financial deficits and no choice but to cut services, create waitlists or in some cases, increase client fees. OCSA urges the government to take immediate action to ensure community support providers also receive a necessary investment to continue to care for their clients, many of whom have nowhere else to turn.
The sector cannot retain and deploy adequate staff to meet the needs of clients without increased support from government - millions of Ontarians - seniors and people with disabilities across Ontario - depend on this service.
The OCSA is calling on the government to act urgently to address an impending crisis, leaving Ontarians with no support when they are most at risk. We will continue to stress to the government that without supporting the entire home and community care sector, pressure on long-term care will increase as well as the ability to clear hospital post-surgical backlogs.
About OCSA
Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario. For more information, visit
www.ocsa.on.ca and
https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets.
About Community Support Services
Community Support Services are an essential part of home and community care and include programs such as Meals on Wheels©, Adult Day Programs, Attendant Care services, assisted living and respite care. The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the importance of these supports, and the critical role they play in the health system.
To arrange an interview and more information please contact:
Janice Bedore
Executive Assistant
416-256-3010
1-800-267-6272, ext. 224
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Ontario, March 27, 2026 — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) welcomes the Ontario government’s continued investment in home care and community support services as part of the 2026 provincial budget. Building on recent commitments, this investment signals a sustained shift toward strengthening care in the home and community as a central pillar of Ontario’s health system. As demand continues to grow—driven by an aging population, increasing caregiver strain, and sustained pressure across hospitals and long-term care—expanding access to care outside of institutions is critical to improving system flow and long term sustainability. “We are listening closely to what Ontarians are telling us—and so is the government,” said Lori Holloway, CEO of OCSA. “People want to receive care at home and in their communities, surrounded by the people and supports that matter most. This investment reflects that reality and moves us further toward a system designed around where people actually want and need care.” Home care and community support services each play distinct but complementary roles. Home care provides essential clinical and personal care in the home, while community support services focus on prevention, independence, and quality of life through programs such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day programs, and caregiver respite. Together, they form the foundation of a modern, community-based care system that helps people remain at home longer while reducing avoidable hospital use and delaying or preventing long-term care placement. This level of sustained investment has the potential to significantly expand access to care at home, strengthen community capacity, and improve outcomes for individuals and families across the province—while supporting a more balanced and sustainable health system overall. OCSA is committed to working with government and system partners to ensure these investments translate into real improvements in access, stronger community supports, and measurable impact for Ontarians. About OCSA The Ontario Community Support Association represents more than 200 not-for-profit organizations providing home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members deliver essential services that help people live independently, age at home, and reduce pressure on hospitals and long-term care. For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca
Province-wide campaign highlights Meals on Wheels as essential to community care
Ontario relies on community health workers every day to treat illness, support mental health, provide care at home, help people live independently, and keep families well, and in many cases, they provide this care 24/7. They care for people of all ages and backgrounds, often with highly complex needs, and they are essential to achieving a sustainable and high performing healthcare system. Closing the wage gap is not simply about fairness; it is about protecting access to care, reducing system pressure, and ensuring Ontario ’ s healthcare investments deliver maximum impact. The ten provincial community health associations are committed to working collaboratively with the government to build a stable, sustainable community health workforce, which supports a stable and sustainable healthcare system, a goal we all share.
