United Way supports new Warming Centre as expansion of local Connection Centre services: Organization also provides $10,000 from reserves for service, launches campaign to raise more from community alongside Stratford Council of Churches
United Way Perth-Huron is supporting a plan to expand services for people experiencing homelessness in Stratford.
City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 20 to open a warming centre at United Way’s Stratford Connection Centre at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth will operate the warming centre as an extension of Connection Centre programming.
“We support council’s decision to open a warming centre at the Connection Centre,” said Ryan Erb, UWPH Executive Director. “We know we need to build more homes. But while the community works toward long-term housing solutions, including through UWPH’s United Housing initiative, we also need immediate, compassionate responses for people who have nowhere else to go. This warming centre will provide safety and dignity during the coldest months, and it’s a critical step in ensuring vulnerable people aren’t left out in the cold.”
Operating seven days a week during the winter months, the warming centre builds on services already offered at the Connection Centre through a partnership between United Way, the City of Stratford and CMHA Huron Perth. Hours for the warming centre will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The city will continue the emergency motel program and maintain its focus on preventing and ending homelessness. That goal is shared by United Way and other local organizations working through the Ending Homelessness Leadership Group.
“We all believe the best way forward is to rapidly rehouse people,” added Erb.
Recognizing the community needs to find funding quickly, UWPH decided to kickstart the process by providing an initial $10,000 out of organizational reserves. Additionally, UWPH is helping raise funds for warming centre programming through the Not One More Night campaign — also supported by the Stratford Council of Churches — with an aim of ensuring no one spends another night without support.
As well as the Not One More Night campaign, United Way is also seeking donations to help meet the increasing costs associated with daily operations of the Stratford Connection Centre.
“This new warming centre is important to help meet short-term needs for people experiencing homelessness,” added Erb. “But we also need additional financial support to keep the Connection Centre’s doors open and continue working on the longer-term solution of getting vulnerable people into stable housing.”
In 2021, United Way began opening Connection Centres in response to rapidly rising levels of people experiencing homelessness. Located in Stratford, Wingham and Exeter — and operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth (Stratford and Wingham) and the Community Table (Exeter) — Connection Centres are housing-based programs staffed by, or with access to, Housing Stability Workers and supported by trained volunteers serving local individuals in a time of need. Centres are region-specific and focus on collaboration to provide wrap-around supports including trauma-informed care, substance use and mental health counselling, as well as basic needs.
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