Your Impact in St. Marys & Area

Together we improve lives through support for basic needs, service connection, advocacy, research and cultivating innovative initiatives.

United Way Perth-Huron helps here in the community you care about. Thanks to United Way, its partners and donors, vulnerable people in St. Marys and area have the chance for a brighter future including…

• 170 individuals and their families accessed counselling services to build resilience
• 1,941 visits to Nourish Equal Access Market
• 631 calls answered by the Community Outreach Worker 
• 400 counselling/mediation sessions provided by the Community Outreach Worker 
• 4 youth received temporary shelter and housing-focused supports

Pressing Local Issues

Housing Stability: 117 households experiencing homelessness in Perth County.

 Poverty Reduction: 19.8% of households in Perth-Huron experience food insecurity.

 Mental Health & Well-Being: 1 in 3 Canadians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.

 Access to Services: Navigating the local social service network is challenging, especially for our most vulnerable.

 Healthy Relationships: 3,657 intimate partner violence crisis calls were received by shelter services in Perth County in one year.

 Equity Supports: 69% of immigrants and visible minorities and 81% of Indigenous people in Perth-Huron reported experiencing discrimination.

Holistic Approach

United Way is committed to cultivating innovative initiatives addressing root causes of local social issues. We research and advocate for a living wage, affordable housing and improved social assistance rates and services.

We also understand that long-term goals don’t solve the challenges of a person facing eviction next week, or the parent with empty cupboards and hungry children right now. To that end, we also fundraise and invest in programs to help ensure people get the immediate help they need.

Changing Local Lives

Thanks to United Way and a supported partner, Justin has the support he needs:

Justin was doing everything he could to care for his young son. Living on social assistance, he struggled to keep up with rent and other bills while supporting a child on his own.

Then came the notice he had feared most: eviction.

Facing the possibility of homelessness, he turned to the local Community Outreach Worker for help.

The worker connected Justin with a lawyer and other partners. Together, they worked to resolve the outstanding rent and stay the eviction. Justin and his son were able to return home.

Today, Justin and his son remain safely housed, thanks the Community Outreach Worker and support from caring local donors who help ensure no family has to face a crisis alone.

United Housing

United Housing is Perth-Huron’s first non-profit housing organization dedicated to developing, building, and managing mixed use rental housing in the community. The initiative’s goal is to support and build on existing work being done by the City of Stratford and the County of Huron, further increasing the amount of available housing stock. It’s a local solution to the very real issue of housing affordability we face across the region. GO HERE for more information.

Urgent Needs Fund

The Urgent Needs Fund is designed to support local residents in a time of crisis with funds for essentials such as rent, groceries, car repairs, medication and child care. United Way is also working for long-term change, lifting people beyond poverty while still ensuring their immediate, basic needs are met if something like this were to happen:

Maggie was thrilled to be able to see her grandchildren every day, but she was sad that her daughter was in such a bad place in her life. Chris and Clare had arrived suddenly two days before with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Maggie’s mind raced, thinking about her modest savings, wondering how she could afford the cost of clothes, toiletries, some toys and extra food. Probably $120 would do it, but she had to budget carefully over a couple months; so extra on groceries now, one extra set of clothes…

Last year, 7 people in St. Marys and Area accessed the Urgent Needs Fund.

St. Marys Community Outreach Worker

The Community Outreach Worker provides non-crisis support to residents facing homelessness, food insecurity and social isolation. Their work is a vital resource to improving health, stability, and awareness across St. Marys.

Addressing Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is linked to learning difficulties, obesity, reduced productivity for kids at school and poorer mental health. Nourish helps mitigate the effects of poverty by offering wholesale prices on fresh vegetables, fruits and meat to residents facing food insecurity; providing a dignified shopping experience.

Action: St. Marys Nourish Equal Access Food Market

• • Mitigates the effects of poverty by offering wholesale prices on local fresh vegetables, fruits and meat to lower income residents
  • Provides a dignified shopping experience
  • 1,941 visits to the market last year

United Way St. Marys Community Committee

Changing Local Lives

“I went looking for a meal, but ended up finding a caring community dedicated to looking out for everyone.

“There were so many fresh vegetables and meats to choose from. In my mind, there was no way I could afford any of it. I felt so embarrassed, like I’d stumbled onto something that wasn’t meant for me. But the staff was so caring and friendly. The first words they said to me were, ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this.’

“Thanks to the generosity of previous customers who dropped their spare change in the “Pay It Forward” jar, all my groceries were paid for. The staff even made sure I had a ride home!

“I left the market feeling so much lighter and hopeful. I’m so glad I found Nourish. It’s such a special place and I’m grateful United Way supports it.”

Supported Partners in St. Marys

Want to read more?

St. Marys & Area Impact Brochure (PDF)