Seniors & Caregivers

Costed campaign commitments

Older residents and caregivers deserve clear local help with food, rides, care and safe housing. Andrii Zvorygin’s draft 2027 budget already gives that goal a practical starting point: $52,605 for 70 Local Representatives, $60,000 for a 12-week civilian crisis-response pilot, and $25,000 for the OSHaRE mobile-meal pilot. Its operating levy is $37,881,851, about $251,000 below the 2026 reference. The budget page shows the full calculation.

That funding supports three direct actions:

Local Representatives help residents find services and report local needs.
Civilian responders handle suitable lower-risk calls and connect people with the right help.
The mobile food-support pilot brings groceries and, when appropriate, ready-to-eat meals to seniors and people with disabilities who cannot afford paid HCSS meals or face travel barriers.

Grey County, HCSS, City transit and community organizations continue their own service roles. The result is a clearer local path to meals, rides, long-term care, housing and caregiver support.

Transparency keeps costs and results visible. Participation gives residents and caregivers ways to report gaps and shape better service. Compassion keeps the purpose clear: help older residents stay safe, connected and involved in community life. Residents can follow the budget, service measures and updates, then share their experience through the feedback link below.

Food at home

Regular access to food helps seniors stay at home and helps caregivers support family members. The City can make existing services easier to find and test a small delivery pilot for people who cannot easily travel to a meal site.

Proposed OSHaRE mobile-meal pilot

Andrii Zvorygin’s draft 2027 budget includes a proposed $25,000 annual planning cap for a lean OSHaRE mobile-meal pilot. A City-leased cargo van would bring groceries, essential food supplies and, when appropriate, ready-to-eat meals to scheduled edge-of-town locations for people living unsheltered two service days per week. The same service could handle on-demand grocery deliveries for seniors and people with disabilities who remain independent enough to prepare most of their own food and who cannot afford paid HCSS meals or cannot travel to a fixed meal site. OSHaRE and other willing providers would supply the food and volunteer service staffing, while the City allowance covers the vehicle, insurance, fuel, maintenance, cleaning and route supplies.

The fixed scheduled stops are mainly for people living unsheltered. Seniors and people with disabilities who remain independent enough to prepare most of their own food and who cannot afford paid HCSS meals or face travel barriers could request a grocery delivery, with frequency set by demand and available resources. Depending on demand, a struggling senior might receive one delivery each week. The campaign proposes free groceries and food support for eligible recipients through both scheduled stops and on-demand deliveries; some frozen meals could be included when appropriate. The service remains subject to an agreement with OSHaRE or another willing provider and final delivery rules. The City allowance pays for the vehicle and route costs. OSHaRE and partners would provide the food and volunteer service staff.

The scheduled stops and on-demand requests would add to food support available at fixed locations. If local sleeping or service patterns change, the City should review the service using requests, food deliveries, locations served, referrals and resident feedback. The mobile-meal costing explains the budget and measures.

Existing Meals on Wheels

HCSS Grey-Bruce Meals on Wheels provides hot and frozen meals for adults who have trouble getting or preparing enough healthy food. The current listed prices are $11 for a hot meal and $6 for an individual frozen meal; HCSS says prices vary by location and can change. People can begin through HCSS central intake at 1-833-659-5491.

HCSS provides the established paid meal service. The proposed City-supported OSHaRE pilot would provide a free grocery and food-support option for eligible seniors and people with disabilities who remain independent enough to prepare most of their own food and who cannot afford paid HCSS meals or cannot travel to a fixed meal site. Some frozen meals could be included when appropriate.

Getting around

Good transportation helps seniors reach groceries, medical appointments, pharmacies, social activities, family, recreation and caregiver support.

City transit and Mobility Transit

Owen Sound conventional transit operates accessible buses Monday to Saturday. The current City schedule runs during daytime hours, with no Sunday service. Seniors can use the reduced senior monthly pass listed by the City.

Mobility Transit provides door-to-door rides for approved City residents who cannot safely use regular accessible transit because of a disability or health condition. Bookings use 226-908-2827. Applications require the City form and, if needed, information from a healthcare professional.

The campaign’s Transportation Plan supports reliable current service, stronger Mobility Transit capacity and future service expansion based on published funding, accessibility and reliability goals.

Community and regional transportation

HCSS Grey-Bruce provides transportation for non-emergency medical appointments, shopping, banking and other errands. Guelph Owen Sound Transportation connects Owen Sound with communities between Owen Sound and Guelph seven days a week. Residents and caregivers can compare the route, eligibility and booking rules for each service.

Living independently and caregiver support

HCSS Grey-Bruce connects residents and caregivers with services that help people stay safely at home and stay connected with others.

Day Away: social and therapeutic activities with medical monitoring, meals, transportation options and caregiver respite.
Overnight respite: short-term care that gives caregivers a planned break.
Friendly visiting: volunteer visits or phone calls for adults who experience isolation.
Housekeeping: help maintaining a healthy and clean home.
Transportation: practical trips that support health, shopping and daily life.

HCSS central intake is 1-833-659-5491. Residents can also ask Local Representatives, libraries and community groups for help finding these services.

Housing, care and community

Affordable housing pathways

The Affordable Rural Communities plan is a general affordable-housing option for families, workers, seniors, young adults, growers and other reasonably stable residents. It combines modest homes, shared roads and services, and access to productive land through planning work led by Grey County. The housing and homelessness plan also covers prevention, existing homes, lower-cost construction and help finding housing.

Long-term care and aging in place

Lee Manor is Grey County’s 150-bed long-term-care home in Owen Sound. Grey County’s long-term-care application pathway helps residents and families explore placement, tours and care questions.

St. Clare Place is under construction at 3rd Avenue East. The four-storey development will provide 40 homes for residents aged 65 and older, with a mix of affordable and market-rate rental units. The City says first residents are anticipated in 2027, subject to construction and project readiness.

Activities and age-friendly community life

Owen Sound seniors’ activities include local clubs, centres, events and information about community assistance. Grey County’s Age-Friendly Communities Strategy and Action Plan covers transportation, housing, parks and outdoor spaces, social activities, civic participation, communication and community health. Owen Sound can use this plan when it makes City services and public spaces easier for older residents to use.

Accessible parks, recreation, libraries, welcoming public buildings and safe neighbourhoods help people remain connected. The City’s parks system includes more than 40 parks and over 380 acres of parkland, with accessible destinations such as Harrison Park and community recreation facilities.

Local supports and sources

Read the platform summary Share seniors and caregiver feedback