Last week it got tougher.
A drop in affordable rental options in our community is sparking a large wave of understandable concern. Fewer places to rent mean the pressure on our current housing system is growing and will undoubtedly lead to more people without a space to call home.
Homelessness is a system failure that government, service providers, businesses and citizens must each play a role in solving.
Changes to our rental supply serve as a stress test of our community’s integrated plan to address homelessness. No matter how dramatic or suddenly these changes occur, our community is ready to rise to the need. The solution will be complex. It will require an exceptional level of collaboration that will push our resources, creativity and spirit. And, it will happen.
Solving homelessness also requires us to look past this supply crisis toward long-term solutions. Our community came together under The Home for Good Campaign because we know that the 72 permanent supportive homes it will help finance will change the lives of those living in them. These units will also alleviate some pressure on our housing system. Is this the only long-term solution we need? Far from it. Is it going to have a profound impact on individual lives and this constantly evolving system we all work so hard to maintain? Absolutely.
The Home for Good Campaign needs your support and encouragement so we can continue to build a system ready to deal with short-term capacity needs and think about permanent housing solutions. Please consider supporting this important campaign. Learn more and donate at HomeForGoodGW.ca
Sincerely,
Jason Ashdown, Chair, The Home For Good Campaign
The Guelph Community Foundation
United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin
Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
Kindle Communities
Stepping Stone
Wyndham House
P.S. The City of Guelph is generously matching up to $500,000 of gifts The Home for Good Campaign receives by March 31. Recent news of a possible decrease in rental units makes your donation now all that more vital. Please visit HomeForGoodGW.ca to make a financial gift or call Chris Willard at 519.821.9216 x 234 to learn more about our plan and how your leadership gift can help solve homelessness in our community.
