Large crowd expected for public information meeting on Homelessness Support Centre

Lee Griffi, Editor

Oxford County is hosting a much-anticipated public information meeting on the future Homelessness Support Centre in Woodstock.

The county said the goal is to share details, answer questions, and listen to feedback about the project, one that comes with a $4.55 million price for the purchase of the former YMCA. The centre's annual operating costs, estimated at $2.4 million, will be funded in part through Ontario's Homelessness Prevention Program. Currently, the county allocates approximately $1.9 million in provincial funding each year for shelter services and homelessness support. The cost of renovations at the building is not yet known.

The consultation is taking place on Wednesday, July 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Boughtflower Room at the South Gate Centre at 191 Old Wellington Street.

“We tried to find a facility that would be big enough for a lot of people. Obviously, we don't know what the attendance is going to look like, but we are expecting a large amount of the population,” explained Rebecca Smith, the county’s director of human services.

“The meeting will allow residents and businesses located in the area of the new shelter, 808 Dundas Street in Woodstock, as well as other members of the community, to give input and ask questions on operational aspects of the support centre, safety and security, and other considerations. It will include a presentation and a question-and-answer period,” said a county press release.

Residents and businesses in the area will receive a direct notice for the public meeting and will be notified again in advance of the County Council report. The Homelessness Support Centre, expected to open in spring 2028, will serve residents from across Oxford County who are unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless.

Smith said the county has already heard from those on both sides of the issue.

“It is mixed. I will say we have heard from several community partners we work with who wanted a facility of this nature, so there are positive aspects of that. There are also some positive comments from the community. Then also we have the concerns from neighbouring property owners, which is fair in terms of what they will expect from the facility going forward.”

She is encouraging people to show up to the session, have their questions ready, and county staff will try to deliver answers as best they can.

“It's an opportunity for staff to share more details, and it is important to note that we do have shelters running in Woodstock currently. This isn't new in terms of the operational components. It's just different in terms of the location and also having everything within one 24/7 facility. We are certainly open to clarifying and providing more information. Any questions can be on the table. We're open to answering anything that we can.”

The county’s Speak Up Oxford page is also open to anyone looking to have a question answered before the session and those unable to attend. Details are posted at www.oxfordcounty.ca/speakup.

“The centre will offer a single-location 24/7 emergency shelter model with 55 beds, meal areas, safe storage for personal belongings, on-site laundry, day programs, and on-site security. It will also offer on-site professional staff to help unhoused people find employment, mental health and addictions support, permanent housing and other services. Office space will also be made available to other community agencies,” added the release.

The new centre will offer on-site support services that are flexible and focused on transitioning individuals out of homelessness. It is expected to open in the spring of 2028.

The support centre will adopt a “low barrier” model, meaning more flexible stay requirements to provide immediate shelter access to vulnerable individuals. The centre will also take a housing-first approach, which prioritizes moving unhoused people rapidly from the street or emergency shelters into stable and long-term housing with appropriate supports.

It will work closely with Woodstock’s new Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub/Wellness Centre. It is a voluntary treatment and recovery facility and is temporarily operating at 369 Huron Street in Woodstock until its permanent location opens at 16 Graham Street, the former Hydro One/Woodstock Hydro building, in 2027.

Oxford County’s Homelessness Response Strategy identifies the main factors contributing to homelessness in Oxford as mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence. The county’s records show the majority of unhoused people using Oxford County services are from Woodstock, with the remaining from other locations in Oxford County.