Huron Out of the Cold sheltered 49 individuals in 2022

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HURON – Huron County’s Out of the Cold emergency shelter program supported 49 individuals in 2022.

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That was one highlight of the county’s annual Housing and Homelessness Annual Report, which was presented to county councillors during their May 17 council meeting. The report provided insight into the collaborative efforts between the county and all Huron County-based agencies working to end homelessness.

According to homelessness programs supervisor Erin Schooley, those who used the Out of the Cold shelter in Goderich collectively stayed a total of 1,028 nights. The shelter provides a hot meal, breakfast, showers, transportation, security and professional staff to support guests.

Additionally, Huron Turning Point in Exeter supported 10 unique individuals in 2022, while the Salvation Army of Wingham supported 16 unique individuals throughout the year.

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Schooley pointed to the achievements of the provincial Homelessness Prevention Program in her presentation, which has provided support for more than 200 households to remain in their homes, but she noted that some of the greatest impacts in the county have been seen by funded local partners.

“While prevention is important, the crowning achievement is Huron’s programs that focus on housing with supports, where 57 lives of vulnerable people were changed by funded partners,” said Schooley. “Support programs impacted the lives of those people who are accessing Safe Homes for Youth, (Canadian Mental Health Association) Huron Perth and Huron Turning Point.”

The county’s efforts to combat homelessness also include social housing projects.

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Huron County maintains 415 rent-geared-to-income units, including 15 apartment buildings and 84 family units. But with a waiting list of 544 households, projects such as the proposed Sanders Street building in Exeter and Gibbons Street building in Goderich are moving ahead to provide additional units with a mixture of affordable, deeply affordable and rent-geared-to-income units.

As of March 31, there were 53 households in Huron County consenting to being reported as experiencing chronic homelessness, which is defined as experiencing homelessness for six months over the past year or for a recurrent period totalling 18 or more months over the last three years. Those households include four youths (ages 16-25), 39 single adults and 10 families.

But Schooley estimated the true number of those experiencing homelessness is much higher than what’s reported.

“I suspect that’s modest,” she said. “We’re still really learning people’s experiences. Not everyone will disclose.”