LONDON, Ont - The City of London has announced its first ever Housing Stability Week, which aims to provide individuals and families facing or at risk of facing homelessness with centralized access to services.
Chuck Lazemby of the Unity Project says the goal is to welcome as many people as possible with no judgement.
"Institutions that we have that are there to support people often are failing individuals who are experiencing poverty or who may be using substances, or who may have mental health issues," he says.
"So I think that it's important for us to try to bridge those gaps between supports, to be really approaching it with passion and kindness, and also follow through in terms of what supports we're going to be able to offer for folks."
Melaina Ireland says she has been living in a tent all year.
"...they're not doing nothing but make me pack my stuff up and move every day in the city of London, right? Taking my stuff, like taking many tents from me, taking all my stuff, all my belongings, like a lot of money, right?"
The week will run at the Silverwood Arena from October 28, until November 1st.
The initiative will give individuals access to a wide variety of housing, financial, health and social services and programs in one place.
Some of the services include an identification clinic, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Programs, crisis services, food, medical and foot care as well as veterinary services, showers and hair services.
The reception centre at Silverwood Arena (50 Sycamore St.) will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday October 28 to Friday November 1, 2019. Transportation for those who require it will be made available.
Information for anyone looking to make donations can be found here.
The Housing Stability Week initiative is one of the short-term actions identified in the Core Area Action Plan which was released by the City yesterday.
