A Trillium Grant of $750,000 over 3 years will allow for the creation of a program to build communities and link people.
Called the Windsor-Essex Compassion Care Community, it will involve a team of facilitators who will engage residents who are disconnected.
Director Deborah Sattler says they've already started in 5 buildings and will expand to 60, reaching 1500 people.
She says it is an outreach program.
"We would go in and invite people to come to an activity, an event, a free lunch. And to be able to learn about the compassionate neighborhood program that's coming in to their building and then invite them to give us some suggestions for what kind of activities they would like"
She says there are a number of partners they're working with.
"Life After 50 has 20 buildings we would like to bring into the program over the next year as well as being able to offer it with some of our existing partners like Kingsville Community Centre, Hospice, etc."
Shirley Jinkerson was one of the first to benefit from the program.
Windsor Essex Compassion Care Community recipient Shirley Jinkerson, February 14, 2018 (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"I was at a point where I didn't know where to turn, and they provided me with resources and the help that really turned my life around. It gave me a bright spot in my life knowing that I have a future, I can plan goals, I can plan trips, I can do things"
Some of the kinds of things that the program could do is connect a person going into the hospital with someone who can walk their dog while they're getting treatment or help a senior find a ride to church.
Sattler says they'll survey the participants to learn how effective the program is.
The program will be administered through Hospice of Windsor Essex.