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York Region Alliance to End Homelessness

Q & A with Jane Wedlock, Coordinator

It’s one of the fastest growing regions in Canada with a population of close to a million people. Known for sprouting subdivisions, outstanding recreation and entertainment facilities as well as vast green spaces, York Region as its tagline says, is a Great Place to Live and Play. It’s hard to believe there is poverty and homelessness here. But a crisis is growing in York.

There is a severe lack of affordable housing and inadequate emergency shelter for people in a housing crisis. This group wants to increase the profile of affordable housing as a fundamental building block of a healthy community.

Who are you and what do you do as an alliance?

We’re a broad coalition of social service agencies, faith, community and government representatives that meet regularly to plan and coordinate services and supports and implement a strategic response to homelessness in York Region.

Who is homeless or at risk in York Region?

There are people who are absolutely homeless - living outside in fields or parks or their cars. The hidden homeless cannot afford their own place, may be sharing accommodation, which is often substandard or regularly "couch surfing".

The marginally housed are those at extreme risk, paying a large proportion of their income on shelter and could be one incident, one pay cheque away from losing their housing. Homelessness impacts families, young people, women and men. People with disabilities, mental health issues and newcomers to Canada can be particularly vulnerable.

What have you been able to achieve?

We’ve raised awareness about poverty and the critical lack of affordable housing in York Region. Initially we had enormous difficulty trying to convince people that we had these issues in our communities. We conducted a needs assessment with homeless women in York Region.

We do not have an emergency shelter for women in a housing crisis who are not fleeing violence though they may have experienced abuse in their lives. The isolation and extreme hardships they experience are compelling. People had no idea.

How has Tides helped?

Tides has been an enormous support in this work. We’re a grantee of Tides’ Social Justice Fund, and with their support and Sage Centre, we have secured two years funding to build the capacity of the Alliance to do this important work as well as additional funding for a number of collaborative projects. It’s amazing.