It’s been a long, cold, and very snowy winter in Dufferin County—the sort of weather that seems best for hot chocolate and catching up on your favourite show, snuggled up under your coziest blanket. But for some Dufferin residents, it’s been a dark and difficult season without a safe, warm place to call home.
Carol Barber, Housing Program Manager, Dufferin County says people often believe that because Dufferin County is a smaller municipality, homelessness is not an issue here, but that is incorrect. It isn’t always visible, in part due to a strong sense of community amongst our residents, but people in Dufferin County need assistance, and there is a troubling lack of affordable housing available. Tackling homelessness is multi-layered—it’s a crisis that many who are not experiencing it personally do not understand.”
Local organizations including Dufferin County, lower-tier municipalities, Family Transition Place, SHIP, Choices Shelter and Support Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, the Ontario Provincial Police and more are also working together to address housing and homelessness in the community. These organizations are aware of the presence of encampments in Dufferin and, together, are focused on connecting individuals with the appropriate support services and ensuring the entire community is safe.
