Community Support

1. What is homelessness?

   • According to the Canadian Observatory of Homelessness, homelessness is "the situation of an individual, family, or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect means and ability of acquiring it." The homeless population is hard to count because of their mobility and the cyclical nature of homelessness. Halton Region, Social and Community Services Department keep data on the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Halton Hills, including those staying in emergency shelter, motels, and transitional housing.

2. How does someone become homeless?

   • People become homeless for many reasons and causes can combine to the point that an individual is no longer able to sustain a home. People become unhoused when individual and family problems become insurmountable and seem hopeless. This can include catastrophic events such as loss of employment; family break-up or violence; mental and/or other debilitating illnesses; increasing housing costs or chronic substance abuse.

3. How you can help?

   • There is help for homeless individuals in Halton Hills, supported by Halton Region. If you witness or there is someone you know who is homeless, here's what you can do:

     • Call 311: staff will triage clients to determine the best service provider to outreach and respond to the situation including providing access to the Housing Stability Fund, Emergency Shelter, Halton Housing Help or Bridging the Gap outreach

     • Call Halton Region Police non-emergency number at 905-878-5511 (1 District (Georgetown) Office): the report may be referred to the Community Engagement Team for response and appropriate referral  

4. When someone doesn't want help?

   • Often the stigma and shame attached to becoming homeless deters people who need it the most. Halton Region is aware of individuals who don't wish to access emergency shelter services, and can guide them to local supports around mental health outreach, housing related case management services as well as emergency food. Any community group concerned about a particular individual in their community is encouraged to call Halton Region to access supports and services for these vulnerable individuals. Individuals who have been identified as being homeless would be reviewed at monthly meetings of the Region's Homelessness Collaborative Table, or the Halton Situation Table where Halton Region Police are involved. 

5. What's being done to combat homelessness?

   • A Homelessness Action Table under the Community Safety and Well Being Plan was established in 2017 to develop a clear and coordinated process with government, agencies and service providers to proactively address homelessness. Recreation and Parks Department staff will continue to have a role working with Halton Region's Community Safety and Well being team to connect resources with local needs.

Halton Region, with responsibilities for social services (including supports and services for the homeless), is the lead agency for managing encampments. The Town of Halton Hills works with the Region and community partners such as police, paramedics, mental health teams, and outreach workers to address homeless encampments with compassion, safety, and respect for human rights.

The Town’s role is to support agencies and work with them to ensure a coordinated and compassionate approach to helping individuals in our community living in encampments.

Our Response and Approach:

1. Responding to Reports

   • When an encampment is reported, Town staff confirm the location to determine if the property where the encampment is located, is on private property or on municipal/public land.

   • Town staff then reach out to Halton Housing Help to connect with the individual(s) at the encampment and to offer shelter and other supports.

2. Offering Help First

   • Halton Housing Help’s team offers connections to shelter beds, food, transportation, and storage for personal belongings.

   • If an individual chooses not to use a shelter, outreach workers continue to engage and build trust with the individual. This process takes time.

3. Monitoring and Safety

   • Known encampment sites are monitored and visited regularly by Town staff and regional partners (Halton Regional Police Services, Halton Region, Halton Housing Help, etc.).

4. Site Clean-Up – Private Property

   • Should an encampment on private property pose public safety risks or raise concerns, the property owner is to work with Halton Regional Police Services to determine the best course of action.

   • If there is no risk to public safety, the property owner may decide how they wish to address the encampment.

5. Site Clean-Up – Town Property

   • Should an encampment on Town property pose a public safety risk or raise concerns, the individual(s) at the encampment will be issued a Notice of Trespass. This notice will give the individual(s) a set amount of time to pack up their belongings and vacate the site.

   • Before asking someone to vacate an encampment on Town property, Town staff ensure multiple documented offers of shelter have been made and that shelter space is available.

   • Once the site has been vacated, Town staff will remove any remaining debris at the site. Health and safety risks - such as fire hazards, needles, or unsafe structures - are assessed before any clean-up begins.

   • If there are any safety concerns, Halton Regional Police Services may assist with cleaning up. 

Additional Considerations:

• Town staff take part in continuous training focused on ethical outreach and responding to homelessness.

• The Town follows Canadian court decisions that protect the rights of people experiencing homelessness.

For health, safety, and legal reasons, residents and community members are not permitted to dismantle, or clean up encampment sites on public or private property. Encampment sites may contain hazardous materials. Unauthorized clean up efforts can put individuals at risk of injury and may interfere with outreach and support services being provided to those at the site.

All encampment clean-ups on Town property are coordinated and carried out by trained Town staff and regional partners following established safety protocols. Residents who have concerns about an encampment are encouraged to report it to the Town so it can be addressed through the appropriate process.

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada.

• Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

If you are having a mental health emergency, please call 9-1-1, go to your local hospital or contact any one of the help lines below:

Kids Help Phone

Free, confidential online and phone counselling, and volunteer-led text-based support for youth across Canada. Youth can also find information on how to access community support services on their website or call.

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Visit the Kids Help Phone website.

Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST)

The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) provides Halton residents, aged 16 and over, experiencing a mental health crisis with immediate outreach and support. Anyone can call the COAST crisis line which is answered by a trained mental health crisis worker 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.

COAST crisis line: 1-877-825-9011

COAST is funded by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Halton and by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Learn more about the COAST crisis line by visiting the Canadian Mental Health Association of Halton website.

Reach Out Centre for Kids (R.O.C.K)

ROCK's Crisis Response Program provides immediate outreach for children and youth, their parents/caregivers, and community members. The Crisis Response telephone number will connect you to our 24-hour answering service. You will then be connected with a crisis counsellor as soon as possible.

R.O.C.K. Crisis Response: 905-878-9785

For more information about R.O.C.K. services, including their virtual walk-in clinics and their live answer service, please visit the Visit the R.O.C.K. website. 

ADAPT

A non-profit, outpatient addiction agency in Halton. They offer services for persons with alcohol, drug, gambling, or behavioral addictions. All services are free and confidential. For more information call ADAPT intake line at 905-639-6537, ext. 0. Visit the ADAPT website to learn more.

BounceBack

A guided self-help program for adults and youth aged 15 and over, BounceBack uses workbooks with online videos and phone coaching to provide mental health supports and services. Visit the BounceBack website to learn more.

Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch (CMHA)

CMHA supports clients and the community by phone. Call 289-291-5396 and you will be contacted by a counsellor within 24 business hours, Monday to Friday. Visit the CMHA website to learn more.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

The CAMH website has compiled a list of helpful FAQs about how to take care of yourself and others during COVID-19. Visit the CAMH website to learn more.

Distress Centre Halton

Phone and online support for people in our community to better cope with crisis, loneliness and emotional stress.

Halton Hills: 905-877-1211. Visit the Distress Centre Halton website to learn more.