No images? Click here
Pathway to Functional Zero
May 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
- What Gets Measured, Gets Done.
We're working together
- Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs
- International Youth Prevention Conference 2025
- Training our Community Partners/Agencies
We're helping people
- Stories of Resilience: Women Overcoming Homelessness
We're housing people
- Chestnut Place Affordable Housing Project Opens in Port Colborne
- Pancakes with Purpose: 26th Annual Mayor's #TeamHousing Breakfast
Resources
We're Making Progress
What gets measured gets done. The total active homelessness population in Niagara Region’s By-Name data stands at 1102 at the end of the quarter (March 31st, 2025) with the chronically homeless accounting for 655 of those individuals. In addition, Niagara Region participates in the Built for Zero for veterans establishing a specific focus on this work.
While Niagara has seen a reduction of overall homelessness through 2024 and early 2025 of 14%, the percentage of the total population presenting as chronic continues to grow. This underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing homelessness, emphasizing the need for sustained investments in poverty reduction, supportive housing, mental health and addiction services, and coordinated efforts to transition individuals out of chronic homelessness – or out of homelessness prior to becoming chronically homeless.
Despite these challenges, our homelessness serving system moved a total of 264 individuals of which 116 chronically homeless individuals to housing from our By-Name Data in 1st quarter of the year. Kudos to all the staff that worked so hard on this initiative on their success and thank you for your hard work!
We're Working Together
Homelessness And Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs
To address Chronic homelessness, we need to provide access to housing and treatment. In late January, the province announced new funding for Niagara’s Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, a center dedicated to providing addiction and mental health treatment for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Set to open in late Spring 2025, the HART Hub will offer multidisciplinary care, psychiatry, primary care, peer support, Indigenous-specific services, mental health and addiction treatment, housing supports, and employment connections.
Located on Queenston Street in St. Catharines, the Hub will be co-located with Quest Community Health Centre and De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Services. It will house a variety of essential services and providers, ensuring accessibility to a wide range of supports. While based in St. Catharines, services will be delivered across the region, with community-based mobile supports and supportive housing units throughout Niagara.
Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness can be connected to the HART Hub through outreach and ensuring they are on Niagara’s By-Name List. Individuals who are not on the By-Name list, who may be eligible for HART Hub services, can be connected by calling 211 to reach the Niagara Assertive Street Outreach team. This investment marks a significant step forward in addressing homelessness and addiction recovery in the region.
For more information, please visit https://www.gatewayofniagara.ca/site/hart-hub
International Youth Prevention Conference 2025
Conferences provide an opportunity for learning and sharing about our successful initiatives in Niagara. Niagara Region Homelessness Division attended and participated in the just concluded International Youth Prevention Conference that happened at the end of February in Toronto, Ontario. It was great to hear how impactful Niagara’s youth homelessness leader, the RAFT, has been on approaches to youth homelessness in other communities.
Training of Community Partners/Agencies
Ongoing training is critical for the delivery of high-quality professional services. In February, Niagara Region Homelessness Service engaged community agencies through training sessions with support from seasoned trainers and facilitators from Pivotal Training. The training focused on two areas: first leadership management managers/supervisors of community agencies were provided training on building strong person-centered teams, and the second opportunity focused on person centered intensive case management for our frontline workers across the system.
Building strong Person-Centered Teams
“Understanding the responsibilities of each role, with focus on supervision. A great reminder for case conferencing as well. Enjoyed networking with other staff from other agencies”
“The trainer made a comment that hit home with me" she said "we aren't supposed to fix our clients, we are supposed to support them". This is something I personally struggle with and to hear her talking about how she too struggled and how she dealt with it was invaluable”
Quotes from participants
Person Centered Intensive Case Management
“The service plan and most of the material discussed on the last day I really enjoyed and have taken back to implement into my organization”
“I think we need to slow down and investigate cases more thoroughly and continue to provide check ins for our front liners to not only help them with service delivery but also to ensure their own wellness”
Quotes from participants
We're Helping People
Stories of Resilience: Women Overcoming Homelessness
Paying attention to women’s stories is critical to ensure services are designed to meet their needs. Some of the powerful stories that showcase resilience of women who have overcome homelessness.
A Grateful New Beginning
"My name is A.S. (name changed for privacy), and I want to express my deepest thanks to Jen and Carrie from the Housing Department at Project SHARE. After more than two years of searching, they helped me find a beautiful place to call home."
"Jen and Carrie went above and beyond advocating for me, supporting me through the process, and never giving up. Their dedication made all the difference, and because of them, I finally have a safe, comfortable home. I truly can’t thank them enough.”
At Project SHARE, stories like this remind us of the life-changing impact of stable housing—and the importance of compassionate, persistent support. Every home found is a step toward hope, dignity, and a stronger community.
Keeping Families Together: A Shelter Story of Strength and Hope
“I felt my 9-month unborn daughter kick inside me while moving boxes out of our home. Instead of feeling excited, I wanted to cry.”
That moment marked the beginning of a painful chapter for one local family. After being evicted from their two-bedroom townhouse due to the skyrocketing housing market, they found themselves with nowhere to go. What was supposed to be a joyful time—preparing to welcome a new baby—was overshadowed by fear, instability, and heartbreak.
With limited options, the family was forced to separate: the mother and two daughters entered a local shelter, while her husband, Tom (name changed for privacy), was placed in a men’s shelter across the city. The separation during such a vulnerable time felt unbearable. “It was the most uncertain time of my life,” she recalls. “I was scared I’d have to deliver our baby alone, without Tom by my side.”
In their search for a better solution, Tom discovered YWCA Niagara Region’s Emergency Family Shelter—the only shelter in the area that allows families to stay together. It was a turning point.
“From the moment we arrived, I felt like I could finally exhale,” she shares. “After so much instability, we were together again. I suffer from extreme anxiety and used to shut down just to cope. But in this safe space, I could finally breathe.”
Only a week or two later, their daughter was born—6.2 lbs, 16.1 inches—and Tom was there to cut the umbilical cord. “I’ll never forget that moment. We were whole again.”
After four months at the shelter, the family received life-changing news: with the help of their YW caseworker, they secured an affordable rental unit. “We’re finally moving forward. We’re not just surviving anymore—we’re rebuilding. We can finally focus on what matters most: our family.”
This story reminds us that safe shelter isn't just about a roof—it's about dignity, unity, and a future. Thanks to programs like the YW’s Emergency Family Shelter, families don’t have to choose between staying together and staying safe.
Wendy’s Story: Finding Stability Through Support
Wendy (name changed for privacy) arrived at our doors pregnant and without a home, unwilling to be separated from her partner. Her journey was shaped by complex challenges—mental illness, a developmental disability, and substance use—that made maintaining stable housing extremely difficult. Despite receiving support, she struggled with emotional regulation, resulting in repeated evictions and cycles of homelessness.
Over time, and with continued support from Gateway Residential & Community Support Services and Mainstream, Wendy began to recognize the value of stability. When she returned to the Niagara region after another difficult period, she took the courageous step of reaching out once more. This time, with renewed commitment and comprehensive wraparound support, she successfully secured housing—and today, she is thriving.
At Gateway and Mainstream, we witness every day how homelessness affects women in unique and often unseen ways. Many women do not appear in traditional homelessness statistics. Instead, they remain hidden, living in unsafe, temporary situations without a true place to call home. Their experiences are shaped by factors such as domestic violence, a lack of affordable housing, and systemic barriers that make it even harder to regain stability.
That’s why safe, supported housing is not just important—it’s life-changing.
We're Housing People
Chestnut Place Affordable Housing Project Opens in Port Colborne
More affordable housing is needed to end homelessness. In February, the Chestnut Place affordable housing project officially opened in Port Colborne, providing much-needed housing options for the community. This development aims to address local housing needs by providing safe and stable housing for low-income older adults and families, including people transitioning out of homelessness.
To view an article from the Hamilton Spectator, please visit https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/chestnut-place-affordable-housing-project-opens-in-port-colborne/article_415c5172-be74-5313-8bab-7101aa7e1d53.html
Pancakes with Purpose: 26th Annual Mayor's #TeamHousing Breakfast
Communities that rally together to prevent and end homelessness can—and do—succeed. On February 4, 2025, Community Care St. Catharines & Thorold hosted its 26th Annual Mayor’s #TeamHousing Pancake Breakfast. This beloved event brought together residents, businesses, and local leaders to share a warm breakfast and raise awareness and funds for vital housing support.
More than just pancakes, the event served as a reminder of the power of community in creating real, lasting change. Every plate served helped support efforts to ensure everyone in Niagara has a safe, stable place to call home.
Resources
Outbreak Preparedness, Prevention and Management in Congregate Living Settings
Checklist to help administrators and staff members in a range of congregate living settings plan for, prevent and manage communicable diseases/infectious disease outbreaks.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Health-Topics/Infection-Prevention-Control/Congregate-Living
YouTube Documentary - Bridging Divides: Voices & Visions about Homelessness in Midsize Cities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3mCcUOxpA8
Podcast: Healthcare on the move with Carolyn Dyer
In this podcast episode, Carolyn Dyer, Executive Director of REACH Niagara, discusses ‘REACH’, a mobile healthcare program in Niagara that brings care to the most vulnerable across the Niagara Region, removing barriers for people experiencing homelessness to move forward in their health and housing journey.
To listen to the podcast:
Diversion Expansion across the Emergency Shelter System
Niagara Region remains committed to preventing homelessness by funding a network of community organizations, including Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold, Community Care West Niagara, Port Cares, Project Share, Salvation Army Fort Erie, and The Hope Centre. These agencies form the Niagara Eviction and Housing Loss Prevention (NEHLP) group, which collaborates to ensure equitable, consistent service delivery through a shared triage system that prioritizes individuals and families most at risk of homelessness. This system promotes a ‘no wrong door’ approach and is complemented by Trusteeship services, an effective tool for helping clients maintain housing. Together, these programs have achieved an 83% housing retention rate, and when tenancies cannot be saved, 92% of service recipients are successfully rehoused without experiencing homelessness.
Building on this foundation, Niagara Region also plans to pilot the expansion of Shelter Diversion Workers across all emergency shelters. Funded through recent enhancements, this initiative will increase diversion efforts from 18% to 100%, helping more individuals—particularly single adults—access safe, appropriate housing alternatives while reducing pressure on the shelter system. This pilot supports Council’s strategic priority for building a more equitable region.
To view the Shelter Diversion Workers Report COM 10-2025, please visit:
https://pub-niagararegion.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=41712
Welcoming Streets Initiative (WSI)
A collaborative outreach program in downtown St. Catharines that connects individuals experiencing homelessness with health and social supports. Operated by REACH Niagara and Positive Living Niagara, WSI promotes community safety, inclusion, and well-being through peer-led engagement.
For more information, please visit:
