Photo by B. Shakyaver
In March, at least 103 people in Huron County were experiencing homelessness – that’s according to a report by Madison Spriggs, Homelessness Programs Coordinator to Huron County Council at their meeting on Wednesday morning (May 22).
Spriggs said that the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness increased by six from February to March, with three people moving into housing and out of homelessness programs.
The report debunks the myth that people choose to be homeless, emphasizing that homelessness often occurs when all other options have been exhausted due to various difficult circumstances.
Deputy Mayor of Goderich Leah Noel said that the disproportionate number of Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness was cause for concern for her.
Erin Schooley, Homelessness Programs Supervisor, acknowledged the issue, noting that while there are some initiatives underway, the county lacks specific Indigenous resources, and efforts are ongoing to address this gap. However, ongoing efforts to keep the issue at the top of mind was a high priortiy for them.
Council also discussed the importance of making this data publicly available to better understand and address homelessness.
Written by: B. Shakyaver