Huron County is on par with the city of London when it comes to homelessness on a per capita basis.
The latest by-name list of homeless residents in Huron County included 131 people.
That's according to Board Member for the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan, Michaela Johnston, who explained that Housing Stability and Homelessness is one of the four priorities in the plan.
"Affordable, supportive and attainable housing is the issue," stated Johnston, "And it connects the other three priority areas in that housing stability and homelessness really is integrated with mental health, with people that are feeling domestic or family violence, and with community safety and security."
Johnston added they have launched a social media campaign to help people understand more about the issue. The campaign features a series of social media posts which will run from October 1 to December 31, each focused on housing stability and homelessness with Huron County statistics and other information.
" We need to educate ourselves on the issues that surrounds being unhoused, supporting local services and then standing up for supportive and affordable houses or housing, and last, but certainly not least, being kind," Johnston elaborated. "Expressing some empathy and compassion, and understanding the complex systemic issues that people experience when they're facing, you know, precarious housing or are unhoused."
The overall messaging for this campaign is focused around shifting the way communities view homelessness.
“The complexities of homelessness in Huron have continued to increase as the nation- wide housing crisis unfolds," added Erin Schooley, Homelessness Programs Supervisor with the County of Huron. "We know that housing with supports offers the best possible sustainable outcomes, especially for those in the greatest depth of need who are often unable to resolve their homelessness without assistance.”
Johnston hoped the messages will change the way people think about how a person may have ended up unhoused.
"You know, people [think the homeless] should just go get a job or that everyone that is homeless has a mental health issue," she continued. "Consider donating locally, so that it's not just a Christmas time need or a Thanksgiving time need for food banks or shelters or our connection centers to receive clothing or care packages."
She pointed out their are larger systemic issues contributing to homelessness. She wanted people to know that although mental health and addictions can play a role in homelessness, so can family violence or low income. She pointed to an increasing number of seniors who have no place to go after getting "renovicted." Also, youth often end up on the streets due to family conflict.
Johnston added that it is often difficult for families to remain together during one of the most difficult times of their lives, in the same space, as they manage their homelessness. She said by speaking up for affordable housing, people may be helping a family remain together.
In August, 20 families were counted among the homeless when a by-name list was updated. There were also seven youth aged 16 to 25, and 23 Indigenous individuals.
Johnston encouraged people to get involved by joining an email campaign.
"You can write online and you can join a group that is asking MPs and MPPs to pay attention to the homelessness and unhoused populations in rural Ontario," she explained. "It's not just an urban problem and that we need some support or more support in order to effectively address our housing stability, especially the affordable housing."
The Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan for Huron was established by the lower-tier municipalities in 2021, involving the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Municipality of Bluewater, Municipality of Central Huron, Town of Goderich, Township of Howick, Municipality of Huron East, Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Township of North Huron, and the Municipality of South Huron.
If you or someone you know needs help – reach out.
• 211 Ontario (call or text 2-1-1, or visit online)
• Crisis Line (24/7): 1-888-829-7484
• Huron County Social & Property Services: 519-482-8505
• Local connection centres in Huron (providing emergency basic needs and vital community services):
Exeter: 519-235-2991
Wingham: 519-271-6819 extension 309