Huron Heart to Home
Working together to prevent and address homelessness in Huron County.
People experiencing homelessness and those at high risk of becoming homeless are individual people, each with unique experiences and challenges that require an individualized response. Responding to homelessness is not just about providing housing, it requires relationship and trust building and often means addressing complex issues including past traumas, mental illness or substance use.
For these reasons, addressing homelessness requires an integrated system of support and care strategies that are provided by multiple organizations and agencies working together using a Housing First strategy, the primary goal of Huron Heart to Home
Be Part of the Solution
Click here to find out what you can do to Be Part of the Solution to end homelessness in Huron County.
Who is Huron Heart to Home?
Huron Heart to Home is comprised of County of Huron staff who are focused on preventing and addressing homelessness in Huron County. These staff connect people to community, local organizations, and resources that can help a person access long term housing. Together with community partners, Huron Heart to Home manages the Out of the Cold emergency shelter, and are working on developing a Housing First strategy for Huron County that would reduce, or eliminate, the County’s dependency on costly emergency solutions in the future.
What is Housing First?
A Housing First approach puts a primary focus on helping people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, to quickly access safe, affordable and stable housing, combining the immediate provision of permanent housing with wrap-around support services.
It is the goal of Huron Heart to home to transition to a housing first model that eliminates the need for emergency shelter.
The 5 principles of Housing First are:
- Immediate access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements.
- Participant choice and self-determination.
- Recovery orientation.
- Individualized and participant driven support.
- Social and community integration.
Developing a Housing First Model in Huron County requires:
Construction of supportive housing
Coordinated actions of multiple service agencies
Further development of wrap-around services and programs
What is a dispersed model of Supportive Housing?
In a dispersed or ‘scattered-site’ model of Supportive Housing, a smaller number of units are spread among multiple buildings or properties in multiple communities. This method of supportive housing offers significant integration opportunities within the broader community and allows individuals greater opportunity to remain in their own community.
Learning Resources
Huron County Housing
huroncounty.ca/social-services/housing/#homelessness
2020 Housing and Homelessness Annual Report
huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020-Housing-Homelessness-Annual-Report.pdf
Take the Cringe Test
huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CringeTest.pdf
Huron is a Caring Community
huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/HC-is-a-Caring-Community.pdf
2018 Enumeration Report
huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Enumeration-Report.pdf
2021 Report to the Community on Homelessness Infographic
huroncounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Report-to-the-Community.pdf
Perth-Huron United Way: Unignorable
perthhuron.unitedway.ca/unignorable-issues/#unignorable-homelessness
Ontario Housing Strategy
The Homelessness Hub
Homelessness 101
homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/causes-homelessness
The Corporation of the County of Huron is dedicated to enhancing the social and economic well-being of Huron County through the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
The County supports an individual’s fundamental right to housing without discrimination as protected under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.
Who's Listening
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Social Services
Action Plan for developing a Housing First model
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Agency Coordination
Huron Heart to Home has finished this stage
The Homelessness Task Force was developed in 2020 to address concerns for individuals experiencing homelessness in Huron's community.
This Homelessness Task Force consists of representatives from:
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Huron Perth
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Elgin Middlesex
- Choices for Change: Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselling Centre
- County of Huron Social and Property Service staff
- Huron County Library
- Huron Perth Public Health
- Members of Huron County Council
- Town of Goderich
- United Way Perth Huron
- Huron Women’s Shelter
- Huron Turning Point
- Ministry Office of Hon. Lisa Thompson
- Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
- Huron-Perth Crisis Centre
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Emergency Shelter (Motel-Based)
Huron Heart to Home has finished this stage
To address the immediate health and safety concerns facing Huron's homeless population, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emergency shelter was established in 2020 in local area motels.
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Increase Staff Levels
Huron Heart to Home has finished this stage
Additional County of Huron staff and partnering agencies of CMHA and Choices for Change specially trained in trauma informed care, substance use, and mental health services, were hired to manage the upcoming cold weather emergency shelter and provide wrap around supports for the duration of the shelter's operation and beyond. -
Cold Weather Emergency Shelter
Huron Heart to Home has finished this stage
The Huron Out of the Cold: Heart to Home congregate cold weather shelter was established and ran from November 2020 to April 2021. With a lens of intersectionality, increased funding, and staff specially trained in trauma informed care, substance use, and mental health services, this program provided an emergency shelter that also offered wrap around supports.
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Further Develop Wrap-Around Supports
Huron Heart to Home is currently at this stage
Staff continue to provide wrap around supports in coordinated action with local agencies and volunteers. -
Exploring Supportive Housing
this is an upcoming stage for Huron Heart to HomeCounty of Huron staff are working to explore a dispersed model of supportive housing requirements that align with the County's Long-Term Affordable Housing and Homelessness Plan.
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Provide Housing First Model in Huron County
this is an upcoming stage for Huron Heart to Home
The primary goal of Huron Heart to Home is to move away from temporary and emergency housing solutions in favour of a Housing First model.
