Welcome to Simcoe County Alliance To End Homelessness

(Gleaned from the 2009 Report Card by SCATEH)

Based on surveys of the local housing registries in each community and homelessness advocacy agencies, at least 7,500 people experienced homelessness in 2008.

In 2009, the University of B.C. completed a 148-page report, “Housing and Support for Adults with Severe Addictions and/or Mental Illness in British Columbia” to examine the real costs of homelessness in British Columbia. The study found that the answer in B.C. is $55,000 annually for every homeless person in health, corrections and social services spending. However, the most disturbing aspect of the report was not the amount of money being spent annually but more the study’s conclusion that if housing and support were offered to these people, it would cost the system much less — just $37,000 a year! The study argues that after removing what the province is paying for health care, jail and shelters, and by spreading the capital costs out over several years, taxpayers could ultimately stand to save nearly $33 million annually.

SCATEH promotes two key items to solving homelessness. Additional subsidized housing and supports for the homeless and at risk of becoming homeless.

See full Report Card (here)

Kevin’s world turned up side down when his employer had to lay him off until work started to get busier then he would be called back. Every day Kevin waited for that phone call. He was not eligible for Employment Insurance and did not want to apply for Ontario Works…

Learn more about Kevin and others like him…