Huron County staff say progress has been made addressing homelessness over the last decade, but there's a long way to go.
County council received a report this week that captured not just the last year of housing work, but also reviewed all that the county has done since 2014 when the Homelessness Steering Committee was established.
The report was presented to County Council this week, noting that over the last 10 years, the Housing Team has helped to find accommodations for 606 households. Major projects have included the Bennett Street and Gibbons Street developments in Goderich and the Sanders Street development in Exeter.
Past Warden Glen McNeil said he's so proud of the work they're doing to address affordable housing.
"I would like to acknowledge all of the work of our staff on this. Part of our responsibility as County Council is to look out and care for those that are less privileged than we are and find themselves in a situation that none of us would want to be in," he said. "I'm really proud that Huron County is doing something and addressing the situation. We are looked upon by other counties with a lot of envy... It's easier to do nothing than to do something."
The review included an update on the By-Name List, which captures all people in the County experiencing homelessness and willing to share their experience, to ensure reliable, real-time, and consistent data.
At the end of April 2025, there were 139 households on the by-name list, totaling a 186 people experiencing homelessness in the County.
Housing Services Manager Jayme Koskamp said there've been ups and downs, but pointed to a success of the Bridge Housing and Stability Program as one of the reasons to keep going.
"We also heard powerful stories this year, like the woman who went from having nothing to being reunited with her daughter and grandchild, budgeting independently and believing in her future again," she told council. "These are the stories that remind us why this work matters. This work is not yet complete, however we take great pride in the progress achieved to date and remain optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead."
Koskamp also thanked all those who have helped address homelessness over the last decade, whether its a funding partner, an agency with health expertise, or a support case worker.
The full Annual Housing and Homelessness Report and 10 Year Review can be found on the County's website.