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Pathway to Functional Zero
January 2025
This newsletter provides updates to the public about activities and progress made toward addressing homelessness in Niagara.
In this issue
We're making progress
- Chronic Homelessness and Veteran Support: A Year in Review
- Niagara's Homelessness Team presented at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Ottawa
We're working together
- Recent Visit of Federal Government - Reaching Home
- Highlights from the 2024 OMSSA Policy Conference
We're helping people
- 2024 Point-in-Time (Pit) Count: A Community Effort!
- Winter Response for Niagara
We're housing people
- South Niagara Shelter Now Open!
- Assertive Encampment Intervention (AEI) Pilot
Local News
Upcoming Conferences
Articles/Reports/Research
We're Making Progress
Chronic Homelessness and Veteran Support: A Year in Review
As we begin the new year, Niagara’s By-Name Data offers a comprehensive review of chronic homelessness trends in 2024, reflecting both progress and challenges in addressing this critical issue.
The year began with 661 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in January. A modest decrease to 644 in March signaled early progress, attributed to ongoing collaborative housing efforts. However, this decline was short-lived, with numbers rising again to 656 in April and 647 in May. By June, the count had climbed to a peak of 665, largely due to the pressures of a limited rental market, high housing costs, and economic instability impacting vulnerable populations.
Encouragingly, the summer months saw gradual progress, with active chronic homelessness numbers falling steadily to a year-low of 604 in September, driven by increased housing placements and enhanced support services. This progress faced renewed pressure toward the end of the year, with numbers rising slightly to 629 in December, reflecting seasonal housing challenges and continued barriers within the tight rental market.
Across the region, the total active homelessness population now stands at 1,136 individuals with a decline of 8% from previous year. This is a testament to the amazing work of all the agencies and staff of the homeless system in Niagara. Continued success will require comprehensive and sustainable housing solutions that address both systemic and individual needs.
Supporting veterans remains a cornerstone of our homelessness services. Through collaborative efforts, Niagara Region and its partners successfully helped nine veterans secure stable housing in 2024
Niagara's Homelessness Team presented at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Ottawa
Some of our community partners who attended the conference were able to share valuable experiences and learnings, enriching our collective approach with fresh perspectives and innovative strategies for addressing homelessness in Niagara.
“This year’s CAEH Conference was my first. It was great to be in the middle of so many like-minded individuals with shared values! I felt affirmed that Niagara is a strong contributor in forward momentum and am proud to be affiliated with organizations from this community.”
Joyce Penner – Salvation Army
“Gateway had the privilege of attending the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Conference in October, an enlightening and inspiring experience. This event brought together passionate advocates and service providers from across Canada, all united in their dedication to innovative solutions to homelessness.
“Through thought-provoking sessions and workshops, we explored the latest research, successful programs, and best practices in the field. Connecting with like-minded individuals and hearing powerful stories from those with lived experiences of homelessness deepened our understanding and strengthened our commitment to addressing this critical issue. The conference not only offered valuable insights but also renewed our determination to contribute meaningfully to ending homelessness in our community.”
Shelly Mousseau – Gateway
“Jessica Coons (Program Manager) and I attended the CAEH conference in Ottawa this October. Among the many engaging and relevant workshops, a key takeaway for us was the reaffirmation that, as an agency and under the leadership of the Niagara Region, we are aligned with current best practices in supporting our community’s un/under-housed populations. It is reassuring to see that we are on the right path, addressing challenges that are shared by communities across Canada.”
Jon Braithwaite – Hope Center
We're Working Together
Recent Visit of Federal Government - Reaching Home
In October, Niagara Region hosted a federal delegation from Reaching Home, a community-based program dedicated to preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities to help them address local homelessness needs. During the visit, the delegation toured the region's directly operated emergency shelters on Riordon Street, Summer Street in St. Catharine, and Niagara Falls
Reaching Home link above: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/index-eng.html
Highlights from the 2024 OMSSA Policy Conference
In December, the 2024 Policy Conference, organized by the Ontario Municipal Social Service Association (OMSSA), provided an excellent platform for Niagara Region staff to connect with counterparts from across the province and gain valuable insights from sector leaders.
Municipalities across Ontario are grappling with similar challenges in addressing homelessness and housing needs. A notable message from the Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario was to "stay focused on long-term solutions and pay attention to the data."
Niagara staff benefited from learning innovative approaches from Halton Region leaders, who shared effective strategies for supporting aging in place. These ideas highlight the importance of community-centered solutions in enhancing quality of life.
Niagara also highlighted its Recuperative Care Bed Program in Niagara Falls, capturing the interest of many attendees. The presentation highlighted the program’s successes, and the lessons learned, offering valuable insights for others in the sector.
This event emphasized the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based practices as we continue addressing complex social challenges across the province.
We're Helping People
2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count: A Community Effort
The 2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count took place on October 22nd, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all community partners and members who contributed to its success. Your commitment, energy, and dedication were essential, and your participation in the training and count made a significant impact!
The preliminary results will be presented to Council in the form of a memo on January 7th, 2025. The memo can be found on eSCRIBE Published Meetings.
Link to eScribe Meetings: https://pub-niagararegion.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=40936
We will be processing the collected data and look forward to sharing the findings on our website in the coming months. Thank you for being part of this vital effort to better understand and address the needs within our community!
Link for Niagara Region's website: https://www.niagararegion.ca/housing-homelessness/planning-research/niagara-counts.aspx
Winter Response for Niagara
In October 2024, we presented the Homelessness Winter Strategy to Council, which outlined key strategies to support clients during the winter months. This plan included protocols for cold weather alerts and details on services available for unhoused individuals at the two directly operated shelters.
See Cold Weather section of our website for the details
Link to Cold Weather Section of Niagara Region's website: https://www.niagararegion.ca/emergency/hazards/extreme-cold.aspx
We're Housing People
South Niagara Shelter Now Open!
We are thrilled to announce that the South Niagara Shelter officially opened its doors on December 23, 2024. This essential facility provides safe and supportive accommodation for individuals and couples experiencing homelessness in our community.
Learn more about the shelter's services and impact by visiting South Niagara Shelter - The Hope Centre.
Link to South Niagara Shelter - The Hope Centre: https://thehopecentre.net/south-niagara-shelter/
Assertive Encampment Intervention (AEI) Pilot
The AEI Pilot, launched on June 24, 2024, introduced two Full-Time Employees (FTEs) to the Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO) team dedicated to responding to encampments identified by Local Area Municipalities. This initiative focuses on intensive case management, addressing barriers to housing, and supporting individuals in transitioning to shelter or permanent housing where possible.
Preliminary Evaluation Highlights:
Individuals with positive housing outcomes engaged in an average of 8 interactions with the team.
A focused approach, including temporarily pausing additional calls from the referral line, has significantly contributed to the program’s success.
## individuals have moved into permanent housing.
## individuals have been successfully placed in shelters.
This pilot demonstrates the impact of targeted, person-centered engagement in achieving meaningful housing outcomes.
Local News
Youth Homelessness Impacting Many in Niagara
Link to Youth Homelessness Impacting Many in Niagara News Article: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/niagara-region/more-niagara-youth-seeking-help-to-avoid-descent-into-homelessness/article_7062fa89-8176-5828-ba35-4ce9a975187d.html
Upcoming Conferences
International Conference of Prevention of Youth Homelessness 2025
Link for International Conference of Prevention of Youth Homelessness 2025: https://preventhomelessness.ca/2025conference/
Articles/Reports/Research
Research
Driving Change: Helping Youth Navigate Transitions Out of Homelessness. This animation presents the findings from a coaching and rent subsidy study.
Link to video: https://preventhomelessness.ca/2025conference/
Free Training: Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The training is designed to provide participants with a solid understanding of decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEDI) within the homeless-serving sector
Link to Homelessness Learning Hub: https://homelessnesslearninghub.ca/trainings/dedi-training/?utm_campaign=hh&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter
Podcast: Mental health and Homelessness
This On The Way Home podcast episode explores the connection between mental health and homelessness in Canada.
Link to podcast: https://homelessnesslearninghub.ca/library/resources/podcast-mental-health-and-homelessness/?utm_campaign=hh&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter
