Ontario Community Support Program Funded 2.3 Million Deliveries to Over 84,000 Vulnerable People During COVID-19

Emergency funding supported deliveries of meals, groceries, medicines and more to help low income, vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities stay home safely in the pandemic

TORONTO, March, 2023 – The Ontario Community Support Program (OCSP) – which has helped coordinate, subsidize, and expand deliveries of meals, medicines and other necessities to low-income seniors and people with disabilities in need since April 2020 – is coming to a close.

Part of the Ontario government’s emergency pandemic response measures, the OCSP was a $21.8 million project from April 2020 to March 2023. The program was administered by the Ontario Community Support Association, and funded 136 Meals on Wheels and other organizations across Ontario.

Over the course of the pandemic, the OCSP helped over 84,000 vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities stay safe and independent at home – and out of the healthcare system. For these people – many of whom cannot prepare their own food, live alone, lack family or social support, or face food insecurity due to financial barriers – OCSP deliveries were a lifeline.

Over 3 years, OCSP funding helped coordinate and subsidize over 2.3 million deliveries of meals, medicines and other necessities to low-income seniors and people with disabilities in need.

“We’re proud of how our members have stepped up throughout the pandemic to serve their communities with compassion and commitment,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of Ontario Community Support Association, which represents home care services, Meals on Wheels and congregate dining programs, transportation, and other community support services. “With widespread uncertainty, continuing demand , rapidly increasing operational costs, and many community support organizations struggling with volunteer recruitment, it hasn’t been easy to maintain – and enhance – services to keep the most vulnerable people in our communities safe in COVID-19. OCSP funding helped to meeting the demand.”

As Ontario emerges from the pandemic, the government is re-focusing its supports to help those in greatest need by working with partners to redirect them to other services that were in place prior to the pandemic and will continue to offer support going forward.

“People need to know that the pandemic continues to leave its mark,” cautions Simon. “Rapid health declines, rising food costs and other pressures mean that seniors and people with disabilities continue to rely on home and community care to keep living safely and independently at home.”

Local community support organizations are calling on individuals or organizations with time or funds to contribute to their ongoing efforts to support Ontario’s most vulnerable people. Find out more at www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca.

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About OCSA

Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 240 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.

For interviews and information requests please contact:

Karla Sealy – Manager of Communications

Ontario Community Support Association

416-256-3010 ext. 242

Karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca

More Updates

OCSA Welcomes Ontario Budget Investment in Home and Community Care

By Karla Sealy • March 27, 2026

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

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By Davina Yawson • February 13, 2026

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