Clinton walk shows community support in fight against homelessness

Clinton residents and Clinton Public School students bundled up and stepped out to participate in a local event to engage on homelessness initiatives across Huron County, helping to raise both funds and awareness for some of the area’s most vulnerable individuals.

Michelle Millar, manager of community development for United Way Perth-Huron, said the organization traditionally hosts three main events in Wingham, Goderich and Exeter.

However, smaller communities have expressed a desire to participate in their own way.

“We realize that there are so many communities in between, and they want to celebrate and walk for a cause in their own way,” Millar said.

“That’s why we’ve done these kinds of offshoot events before the main event.”

The Clinton walk is part of the broader Coldest Night of the Year campaign, a national initiative that brings communities together to raise funds for local charities supporting people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship.

Millar expressed the need is evident not only in larger centres but also in small towns across the county.

“In Clinton, like anywhere else, we see homelessness, people living rough, people who are vulnerable, people living paycheque to paycheque — one paycheque away from homelessness,” she said.

“That’s who we’re here for today.”

Funds raised through the annual campaign do not go toward launching new projects, Millar explained. Instead, they help sustain existing programs operating under what United Way calls its Hero on Homelessness initiative.

Benefiting organizations include Safe Homes for Youth, the Food Bank Distribution Centre, Turning Point, local Connection Centres and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). 

“It’s all those people who are doing the amazing work to help our community members,” Millar added.

“Do they need more? Do we need to give more? Yes. But that means the community must give more.”

For smaller communities like Clinton, the fundraising goal is ambitious. This year’s target is $150,000, and as of [February 27th, 2026], organizers reported they were already 85 per cent of the way there.

Millar noted the Coldest Night of the Year continues to resonate with residents.

"It brings people together,” she said.

“Clinton and all the other communities across Huron County are certainly doing their part to say, ‘We care.’”

Organizers say every dollar raised will stay local, directly supporting frontline agencies working to prevent homelessness and provide critical services to those in need.

Ryan Erb, Executive Director of United Way Perth-Huron also attended the event. He explained collaboration, awareness and year-round support are key to helping the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Erb expressed about the importance of raising awareness and building solidarity around homelessness, emphasizing that meaningful change begins with community involvement.

“One of the things we want to do is let the world know that we are working together to help our most vulnerable citizens,” Erb said.

In Goderich, Clinton, and surrounding areas, funds raised support the Bridge Program — a partnership initiative designed to provide short-term housing and stabilization support.

The program is operated locally by the Canadian Mental Health Association and funded by the County of Huron and United Way Perth-Huron.

The Bridge Program offers 15 temporary beds for individuals experiencing homelessness, typically allowing stays of up to three months. During that time, staff work with citizens to stabilize their situation and help them explore longer-term housing solutions.

“We’re trying to help people stabilize and then look for options for more permanent solutions,” said Erb.

Those next steps may include transitioning into longer-term housing programs, such as Turning Point in Exeter, a six-bed transitional housing program where residents can stay for up to a year. In other cases, individuals are supported in securing permanent housing as quickly as possible.

The Bridge Program, which has been operating for the past couple of years, represents a shift from previous seasonal models that only ran during the winter months. It is now a year-round program — a change Erb says is making a measurable difference.

“Because we have more time with people and because it’s now operating year-round, we’re seeing really strong outcomes,” he said.

“We’re helping more people and providing more stability than before.”

Erb stresses that continued community support is essential to maintaining and expanding these services. By participating in local fundraising events, spreading awareness, and learning about the realities of homelessness in rural Ontario, residents can play a direct role in strengthening the safety net.

“Homelessness can look different in rural communities,” Erb noted.

“But it’s here — and when we work together, we can make a real difference.”

For more information about local programs or to get involved, residents can visit the United Way Perth-Huron website or participate in upcoming community initiatives supporting homelessness prevention and housing stability in need.