Ontario’s health care system needs to be rebalanced

OCSA releases their 2020 pre-budget submission with solutions to help people receive care at home

Toronto, January 23, 2020 – Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) and the home and community care service providers we represent want to help the government rebalance the health care system so that Ontarians can receive care in the right place. Close to 5,300 patients are receiving hospital care each day while waiting for care in more appropriate settings. Based on the real experiences of many Ontarians, our pre-budget submission highlights two examples of clients in the health system and details how a strategic investment of under a half a billion dollars will allow the home and community care sector to help people live well at home longer for less.

Home and community care services can help prevent Ontarians from going to the hospital in the first place and allow them to live safely at home, instead of costly and unnecessary long-term care. When funded appropriately, the home and community care sector can also discharge people quickly out of hospital.

However, the sector’s solutions face a serious issue; frontline care workers are in short supply and wage freezes threaten to make an already precarious situation even worse. Closing the current wage gap is key to ensuring that people can be supported properly and move through the health care system efficiently.

As stated in our Pre-Budget Submission released today, OCSA believes the government should:

Increase service volumes by 5% by investing $208 million in 2020-2021 – with targeted investments in the expansion of assisted living services for frail seniors and community based transitional care programs.
Issue a directive from the Ministry of Health that all Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) must provide a comprehensive and equitable basket of home and community care services that include home care services, community support services and independent living services.
Direct an average of $156 million a year for 5 years to frontline home and community care workers in order to close the wage gap with hospitals and long-term care.
Invest a much needed $125 million directly into the base budgets of home and community care providers.

“Our current health care system is incredibly out of balance,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of OCSA. “The home and community care sector can help if supported properly, so that Ontarians can receive the care they need in the right place. We know that if no changes are made, the waiting list for long-term care could balloon to 40,000 people over the next few years. Ontarians need relief now. Last year, almost 18,000 people living in long-term care homes could have continued to live at home and in their communities with appropriate funding. With more investments to frontline workers, like PSWs and nurses, and adequate funding for home and community care providers, we can relieve hospital system pressure and free up much-needed resources.”

For more information, please see our pre-budget submission here. Follow #careathome2020 on social media.

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About OCSA

The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents over 220 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services to over one million Ontarians. Our members help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.These proactive 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.

Interviews are available with OCSA CEO Deborah Simon. For more information please contact:

Michele Vantrepote
Communications Manager
Ontario Community Support Association
416-256-3010 x 242
michele.vantrepote@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 Karla Sealy • March 2, 2026

Province-wide campaign highlights Meals on Wheels as essential to community care

OCSA is part of the For Us For You campaign, a joint initiative lobbying to close the wage gap.

By Davina Yawson • February 13, 2026

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.