District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board

What District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board does

The District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) is a publicly funded Ontario government corporation established in February 1999 under the District Social Services Administration Boards Act. It serves as the legislatively designated Service Manager for social services across 22 member municipalities and unincorporated areas within the District of Parry Sound, governing Ontario Works financial assistance and employment support, ODSP administration, child care fee subsidies and early years programming, community housing, homelessness prevention, and women's services through its Esprit Place Family Resource Centre subsidiary.

The organization operates a portfolio of statutory programs delivered through seven physical locations (headquarters in Parry Sound, plus South River, Emsdale, Powassan, and embedded child care centres) and multiple digital channels. Core technology assets include the YARDI SecureRent Café Social Housing Tenant Portal for community housing residents, the OneHSN Childcare Connect Platform powering a centralized Child Care Application Portal launched in August 2024, the provincially operated Social Assistance Digital Application (SADA) for Ontario Works intake, and a 24-hour crisis line for women's services. The Parry Sound District Housing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, owns and operates 215 rent-geared-to-income housing units, with an additional 146 non-profit housing units administered across the district.

DSSAB is funded through a cost-sharing arrangement between the Province of Ontario (under various Provincial Acts and Statutes) and member municipalities (apportioned by total assessment values), making it a non-commercial, mandate-driven entity. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The Board is governed by 15 members appointed by member municipalities, with day-to-day operations led by a Chief Administrative Officer and eight functional directors covering Finance, HR, Income Support & Stability, Housing Operations, Child Care Service Management, IT, Directly Operated Child Care Programs, and Women's Services. The organization employs 169 team members with an average tenure of 9.64 years and is currently executing a 2021–2026 Strategic Plan while developing its Housing and Homelessness Plan Update 2026 and a stated 2026 goal to end chronic homelessness in the district.

Name

District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board

Legal name

District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board

Website

https://psdssab.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board is an Ontario government corporation that administers provincially mandated social services — Ontario Works, child care subsidies, community housing, homelessness prevention, and women's shelter services — across 22 municipalities and unincorporated areas in the District of Parry Sound.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services Administration

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (6244), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Income Support & Cash Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAE), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Social services administration
• Community housing programs
• Child care services
• Women's shelter services
• Homelessness prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Parry Sound

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Provincial Government Funding: Funded by the Province of Ontario under various Provincial Acts and Statutes for social services including Ontario Works, ODSP administration, child care service management, and housing programs
2. Municipal Government Funding: Municipal share of total costs is apportioned among participating Municipalities and Unincorporated areas according to their percentage of total assessment values within the District of Parry Sound

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DSSAB administers and delivers statutory social services across the District of Parry Sound, including Ontario Works financial and employment assistance, subsidized community housing (215 RGI units plus 146 non-profit units), children and early years services (directly operated child care centers, EarlyON programs, fee subsidies, inclusion support), homelessness prevention and transitional housing, and women's services through Esprit Place Family Resource Centre.

Product overview

The District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) operates as a social services administration board providing a comprehensive suite of human services to residents of the District of Parry Sound. The organization offers social assistance through Ontario Works, manages child care services including a centralized Child Care Application Portal (powered by OneHSN), operates directly-run early learning and child care centres, and provides housing services including community housing (with its Parry Sound Housing Corporation owning 215 units), homelessness prevention, and tenant services through a YARDI-based Tenant Portal. Additional services include EarlyON Child and Family Centres, Esprit Place women's shelter, special needs inclusion support, and various affordability programs. The organization is structured around five key service areas: Financial Assistance, Child Care and Early Years, Housing and Homelessness, Women's Services, and Board Administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Esprit Place Family Resource Centre: Emergency shelter and support services for women and children experiencing gender-based violence, offering 10 emergency beds, 24-hour crisis line, counselling, and outreach services.

Products and services

• Ontario Works Provincial social assistance program administered locally by DSSAB as the Service Manager for the District of Parry Sound, providing financial assistance, employment support, and life stabilization services to eligible individuals and families in need.
• Community Housing Subsidized housing administered by DSSAB including 215 units owned through Parry Sound District Housing Corporation (100% rent-geared-to-income) plus 146 non-profit housing units in the district, offering family, single, and senior units.
• Esprit Place Family Resource Centre Women's services division providing emergency accommodations (10 beds), 24-hour crisis line, counselling, outreach services, and Children's Voices program for women and children escaping gender-based violence in the District of Parry Sound.
• Community Housing Property Listings Property listing system showing available community housing units across the District of Parry Sound, including address, unit types, and eligibility information for prospective tenants.
• Child Care Fee Subsidy Program Financial assistance program helping eligible parents pay for licensed child care based on income, working or attending school requirements, and special needs considerations. Daily parent fees range from $0 for income under $20,000 to a $22 maximum per day (capped by provincial government effective January 2025).
• EarlyON Child and Family Centres Free programs for children from birth to six years and their parents/caregivers, providing play and inquiry-based activities, parenting support, and connections to community resources across the District of Parry Sound.
• DSSAB Directly Operated Early Learning & Child Care Centres Four licensed child care centres operated directly by DSSAB: Waubeek (Parry Sound), First Steps (South River), Highlands (Emsdale), and Fairview (Powassan), offering care for preschool children.
• Child Care Application Portal Online portal powered by OneHSN enabling families to find and apply to licensed child care programs across the district, manage applications, and access fee subsidy and special needs information through a centralized system.
• Tenant Portal (YARDI) Online tenant portal using YARDI SecureRent Café Social Housing platform enabling community housing tenants to pay rent, monitor ledgers, receive updates, and submit maintenance requests.
• Homelessness Prevention Program Program helping individuals and families facing housing challenges or at risk of losing homes, providing financial assistance, tenant-landlord mediation, transitional housing, and connections to community services.
• Affordable Home Ownership Programs Programs including the Ontario Renovates Program (forgivable loans for major repairs and accessibility modifications) and Additional Units Program (up to $25,000 forgivable loans to create additional rental units) to support affordable home ownership in the district.
• Inclusion Support Services Early intervention program for children 0-13 years with differing abilities attending licensed child care, EarlyON centres, or school-age programs, providing support for inclusive environments.
• School Age Child Care Before and after school child care programs operated by DSSAB and partner organizations at various schools across the District of Parry Sound.
• Transitional Housing Program - East Parry Sound Transitional housing program in East Parry Sound providing intensive support for individuals from the By-Name List requiring additional support to obtain and maintain housing, with action plans, weekly meetings, and wraparound services from community partners; 6 bedrooms across converted duplex units.
• Hotel Project Temporary Housing Initiative Temporary transitional housing initiative created during COVID-19 using Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) funding, providing hotel-based accommodation and wrap-around support through community partners for people experiencing homelessness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 215 community housing units owned and operated by DSSAB; 146 additional non-profit housing units managed in district
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OrgCode Consulting Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Contracted in February 2025 to assist with Encampment Response Strategy focused on assessment of unsheltered realities, developing strategies to address housing crisis and homelessness, and identifying opportunities for service enhancements in the District.
• West Parry Sound Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Mental Health and Addictions Worker partnership providing wraparound support for transitional housing program participants in East Parry Sound.
• Community ParamedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Healthcare partnership providing support services for transitional housing program participants.
• Nurse Practitioner-Led ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Healthcare partnership providing support services for transitional housing program participants.
• CMHA Muskoka-Parry SoundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Mental health support partnership providing services to transitional housing residents and Ontario Works participants.
• YMCA of Simcoe/MuskokaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool Age Child Care provider operating programs at multiple schools in the district including Humphrey School, M.T. Davidson School, McDougall School, and Parry Sound Public School.
• YMCA of Northeastern OntariominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool Age Child Care provider operating programs at South Shore Education Centre and St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School.
• Friends Forever Childcare Centre Home AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChild care provider operating Burks Falls School Age Program and Magnetawan Before and After School programs.
• Muskoka Family FocusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool Age Child Care provider operating at Evergreen Heights Education Centre in Emsdale.
• Hands The Family Help NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily support services partner providing resources for children with special needs through Inclusion Support Services program.
• One Kids PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Needs Strategy partner for Smartstart Hubs program connecting families with services and supports for children with differing abilities.
• Lake Country Community Legal ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner providing advice on landlord/tenant issues, workers compensation, social assistance (Ontario Works, ODSP) for low-income residents.
• 22 Member MunicipalitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership across the District of Parry Sound including Township of The Archipelago, Town of Parry Sound, Municipality of Powassan, and 19 other municipalities for service delivery and governance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• YARDI Systems: Vendor of the SecureRent Café social housing platform that DSSAB uses for its Tenant Portal. Ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but materially shapes DSSAB's digital housing delivery model.
• YWCA Canada: National federation of women's shelters and gender-based violence service providers. Comparable in operating Esprit Place-style emergency shelter and women's services, though as an NGO rather than a statutory service manager.

Direct peers

• District Municipality of Muskoka (Community Services): Upper-tier municipal government delivering social services including Ontario Works administration, housing, and child care across a comparable cottage-country district in northern Ontario.
• Kenora District Services Board: Northwestern Ontario services board delivering social services, housing, and child care across a vast, low-density district comparable in geographic and demographic challenges to Parry Sound.
• County of Simcoe Social Services: Upper-tier municipal social services department administering Ontario Works, ODSP, housing, and child care across Simcoe County. Comparable by mandate and service mix, though serving a larger and more urbanized population.
• District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board: Northern Ontario DSSAB administering Ontario Works, ODSP, housing, and child care services across a similarly rural district. Closest analogue by mandate, geographic profile, and statutory role under the same provincial DSSAB legislation.
• Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board: Northern Ontario DSSAB with a similar rural/remote service footprint, administering social assistance, housing, and child care under the same DSSAB framework.
• Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board: Small northern Ontario DSSAB administering Ontario Works, housing, and child care. Closely comparable by scale, mandate, and rural service-delivery profile.

Broad incumbents

• Region of Peel - Human Services: Large upper-tier municipality delivering social assistance, housing, and child care across a major urban region. Provides a broader-incumbent reference point for service models and digital platforms at much greater scale.

Regional players

• City of Greater Sudbury - Social Services: Larger northern Ontario municipality administering Ontario Works, ODSP, housing, and child care. Comparable service mix but substantially larger urban population than Parry Sound.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/psdssab
• Facebookfacebook.com/PSDSSAB

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board