New Program For Homeless or Those at Risk

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 09:02

Photo credit: Allison Leger of the Oxford County Community Health Centre

The Oxford Community Health Centre's housing stability drop-in program assists people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

WOODSTOCK - The Oxford County Community Health Centre are helping clients who are at risk of losing their homes.

The organization's housing stability drop-in program is open on Monday mornings.

Housing Stability Outreach Worker Allison Leger says an increase in referrals led them to running this program.

"This program, we started a housing stability outreach program, probably right now we're in our second year of it, so we have two full-time housing stability outreach workers and we have one who deals specifically with youth, and youth being defined as 16 and 17-year olds. So our program we work with those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and so we've been doing that for a year and a half and we have just seen an increase in our referrals to this program, so we thought it might be beneficial to start up a housing stability drop-in to kind of be able to address more people because we are only, obviously, three full-time employees. So we have a case load but we also want to be able help those who may need just resources or support, or may need just to talk about their situation at that time and we maybe give some help in being able to access more safe, affordable housing, really."

She says their biggest goal is to help people get into safe, affordable housing.

"Our goal would be to reduce homelessness and those who are at risk of homelessness in Oxford County, and to keep people housed. I think that's one of the major goals that we have because we know there isn't a lot of affordable housing in Oxford County and so if you are in housing we want to make sure you stay in housing, and if you are not in housing now we want to help you do that, and maintain that housing. So that's kind of our biggest goal is to make sure people have that piece of their basic needs met."

Leger says they help clients get into safe, affordable housing and then monitor them to ensure it's maintained. They look at the basic skills of keeping tenancy including paying rent, utilities, keeping the home in good condition and maintaining a good relationship with their neighbours.

The housing stability drop-in program runs from 9:00am to 11:00am.