Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) for Huron is launching a new campaign focusing on what can be done at the local level to help homelessness.
The Housing First: It Takes a Community campaign will run from October 1 to the end of the year.
Michaela Johnston, Secretary of the CSWB oversight committee, said the goal is to highlight the groups in Huron County that are helping tackle the housing crisis.
"We'll be focusing on educating residents about the various organizations working together in Huron County to address housing and homelessness, and the different roles that they play," she said. "We can't identify one agency or organization that can tackle the crisis alone, it really is a collaborative effort amongst many organizations and municipalities."
Organizations that will be highlighted include the County of Huron, Safe Homes for Youth, United Way Perth-Huron, CMHA Huron-Perth, Huron Turning Point, and more.
Johnston says housing and homelessness is a more common issue than many realise, noting that over half of Canadians reportedly fear losing their homes.
"We often think of homelessness as just the individuals sleeping rough and not the housing crisis where perhaps you want to separate from your spouse but are unable to because you're financially bound together. Or maybe you simply can't afford or find another apartment within your child's school district," she said.
Along with directing people to local supports, the campaign will let Huron County residents know how they can get involved, either by volunteering with local organizations, or just by welcoming transitional and affordable housing units into their neighbourhood.
Johnston says there's also groups that could use donations.
"Eighty-one youth in Huron County received assistance through one organization called Huron Safe Homes for youth last year," she said. "Even if you don't know how to help, if you can donate to one of our wonderful local organizations that aid youth that are precariously housed or homeless in our community, it does go along way."
She also says United Way Perth-Huron is always looking for help at tax season, helping people file returns to increase their income return.
For more information, visit CSWB Huron's website.
