An Interview with Cathy Cousins

By: Angelica Nuguid

July 2024

Cathy Cousins worked for the Region of Niagara in Corporate Services for 10 years, until 2005, when she began to hold a variety of roles in Community Services including Director of Support Services, Acting Commissioner, and Director of Homelessness Services and Community Engagement within the Region. She has experience with labour negotiations and job evaluation, and involvement in a variety of committees with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) for emergency management and emergency social services. She is skilled in budget preparation and management, financial reporting and committee presentations.

Cathy has previous experience on the OMSSA Board as President and currently serves as Past-President.

This interview explores her priorities in human services delivery for Niagara Region, her involvement with OMSSA, and her overall experience and contributions to the human services sector. This interview has been edited and condensed.

OMSSA: As Director of Homelessness and Community Engagement for Niagara Region, what are your priorities in human services delivery for the Region?

Cathy Cousins (CC): My priorities are shared between supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and supporting broader relationships with the local community, agencies, and not-for-profit sector. Currently, like many communities, we are working on the wicked problems of homelessness, encampments, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness. The team here at Niagara is working hard to try new things, be data-informed, and move the needle on local homelessness as part of our overall work with the Built for Zero Canada Consortium. 

With that goal in mind, and from a broader systems perspective, the team is playing a supporting role to bring systems together and problem solve as a wraparound community in alignment with our housing and homelessness action plan. Players are coming to the table, such as the hospital system, mental health, and police services. We are also working to deliver on our community safety and well-being plan, as homelessness and mental health came forward as key drivers in that work. 

OMSSA: Over your career, you have worked in various senior leadership roles. Could you talk about any skills you’ve acquired working in a municipality and any insights you’d like to share?

CC: Naturally, working in a leadership role in a municipal government provides the opportunity to acquire many skills to support working with politicians and community agencies. With Niagara being in a two-tier jurisdiction, with both a regional government and 12 local municipal governments, objectives and goals may not always align. Navigating those waters takes strong communication and negotiation skills. In addition, having had the opportunity to work in the homeless sector in the current very challenging environment, media and public speaking skills are also something that I did not anticipate needing when I first started my career in the municipal world. 

OMSSA: As an accountant by trade, you’re experienced in budget planning and financial analysis. Could you talk about how this skill set influences the work you do and if there are any skills or experiences people should have before they enter any of the human services sectors?

CC: Stretching every dollar as far as one can is as important in human services as it is for budgeting at your own home. The sector as a whole has not seen funding increases that align with cost of living pressures and staffing costs. As a result, creativity and strong budgeting and forecasting are necessary components in senior roles to ensure that money is managed and maximized.

One example of this is the need to think of funding in the realm of homelessness with a view to return on investment. The sector does not have the financial depth to fund all of the great community work that is out there but has to be focused on those programs that can show outcomes. What I would offer to readers is that leadership in human services needs to have the analytical capacity to work with data, ask the tough questions, and then back their team when difficult decisions need to be made. 

OMSSA: You were previously OMSSA President and now you are currently Past-President. Could you elaborate on what inspired your involvement with OMSSA and how does this influence your work in Niagara Region and elsewhere?

CC: My involvement with OMSSA started many years ago with requests to assist in some hot teams or specific projects to lend my financial knowledge to their work. That transpired into meeting some amazing and brilliant individuals doing great work in this field with a goal to support all of Ontario's vulnerable residents.

With that realization, I made the decision to run for the Board, and I've learned so much from that experience. I met great new colleagues, providing more opportunities for phoning a friend to chat through challenges, share insights, and perhaps vent a little. I would take this moment to encourage all OMSSA Members to offer their services, get involved, and run for board positions. 

OMSSA: Reflecting on your career, which one or two achievements do you find most notable, and what makes them stand out to you?

CC: The first I would have to say is the opportunity to have been an OMSSA President and to work with the Board. It was definitely an achievement and a great opportunity. Also, it provided the chance to influence policy and funding in support of vulnerable populations and make Ontario better.

After that, I will say that no one person has accomplishments, but teams have successes. I have been very fortunate in my time to have had an outstanding team and opportunities. During the pandemic, we got the opportunity to try out new ideas to address homelessness. The additional funding combined with a sense of urgency by all levels of government allowed everybody to move faster and explore new territory. From that, Niagara has several new assets, in particular, our Bridge Housing and Recuperative Care Project, which we have presented at the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and we'll be presenting again at various conferences in 2024. 

OMSSA: Do you have any additional information or insights you'd like to share with our members that we haven't covered in our discussion? 

CC: I think what I will offer is human services work can be difficult and financially frustrating. As government employees, we are held to a higher standard and a set of expectations by the public. But do not let that dissuade you from entering this field. It is extremely satisfying work. Clients can make for heartwarming stories, and the people you will get to work with are outstanding citizens. 

OMSSA: Thank you, Cathy.

About the Author

Angelica Nuguid is a third-year Public Relations Student at Humber College joining OMSSA as a Communications Intern as of January 2024.