At SHIP, we know that housing is healthcare. A safe and supportive home is more than shelter, it is the foundation for recovery, wellness and the possibility of a better future.
Every year on November 22, communities across Canada mark National Housing Day. It is a time to reflect on the growing need for safe, affordable, and supportive housing, and to recommit ourselves to creating solutions that make lasting change. The day traces its origins to the 1998 Toronto Disaster Relief Committee declaration of homelessness as a national disaster, and since then it has become a call to action for governments, service providers, and neighbours alike.
National Housing Day is a reminder that housing is a human right, that homelessness is preventable, and that lasting change requires coordination, investment, and compassion. Across Peel Region, Dufferin County, and Waterloo Region, rising housing costs, stagnant vacancy rates, and increasing demand for supports are pushing more people into unstable and unsafe living situations.
For SHIP and our partners, National Housing Day reinforces what we see every day. The need is real, the stakes are high, and progress is possible when we work together. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the leadership and resilience of people with lived experience, and to recognize the dedicated housing and support workers who continue to make a difference.
Across the communities we serve, homelessness is rising. In Peel, homelessness has increased by more than 90 percent since 2021, with shelters serving over 8,600 people last year. In Waterloo Region, at least 2,371 people are without a home. Even in smaller Dufferin County, despite lower official homeless numbers being reported, the real numbers are likely much higher due to ‘hidden homeless’ figures going unreported.
At SHIP, our commitment to ending homelessness is built on the principle that every person deserves a safe and stable home supported by community, acceptance and opportunity. Across our service areas in Peel Region, Dufferin County and Waterloo Region, our programs deliver both immediate supports and long-term housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness, mental-health or addiction challenges.
Our Supportive Housing program provides permanent, affordable homes with individualized supports that help people maintain housing and work toward recovery and independence. Our Short Stay Crisis Support service provides immediate sanctuary during critical moments and serves as an entry point to longer-term housing. Through the redevelopment of 236 First Street in Orangeville, we created a supportive housing program of studio and two-bedroom units for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes, offering a safe, stable and accessible home in a central community location.
On the development and investment side, our Community Bonds initiative invites community members and partners to invest in the expansion of supportive housing. By participating you’re helping SHIP build and maintain homes that include the right supports – from accessible units to addiction-informed care to integrated wellness services. You can learn more and invest at shipshey.ca/invest. Together we are turning crisis into possibility, and ensuring that housing is not just a roof over a head but the foundation for a better life.
