WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county has proposed a $1.4-million winter response plan to keep about 75 homeless people off the streets this winter.
Director of housing services Dave Purdy presented a report on Sept. 10 to the joint social services and land ambulance committee, which covers both the county and City of Guelph.
“Chronic and non-chronic homelessness numbers continue to increase in our community from last year,” Purdy told the committee.
“There are at least 75 individuals that we are aware of experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our community.”
That number is based on the Wellington-Guelph by-name data, formerly the by-name list, a real-time list of all people experiencing homelessness in a service delivery area.
Of the individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, 12 are in the county and 63 in Guelph.
“That number is significantly higher than (during) our conversation that led into our winter response plan last year,” Purdy said.
Cost estimates are based on accommodating up to 75 individuals from Oct. 1 to April 30.
Of the $1.43 million, the county will cover $540,000 and the city $855,700.
Unsheltered individuals will be offered tarps, tents, sleeping bags, pillows, warm clothing and access to storage of belongings will continue for those who move to temporary accommodations over the winter.
The tangibles and storage will cost $40,000 and all cost estimates have been included in the winter response plan budget.
The 2025 county budget included an allocation of $283,000 for response plan costs.
County officials anticipate an increased cost of $331,000 will be partially offset by a one-time Reaching Home federal grant received earlier this year.
“A variance report will be brought forward in October that will provide an estimate of the overall year-end position for both the city and county,” states the report.
“Giving a person a place to live temporarily is a great thing, but are we then trying to reach out with other services to help get them out of that hotel situation?” asked councillor Mary Lloyd.
Purdy said one the biggest successes of last year’s plan “was incorporating the housing engagement agreements and participation and engagement requirements to identify long-term housing solutions.”
He added, “So the answer to your question is yes.
“No matter if they are in a hotel, we’re still having those engagement conversations on a long-term housing solution strategy.”
The plan states to continue to implement a housing engagement plan and agreement approach with individuals staying in hotels or at the temporary accommodation services at 128 Norfolk Street in Guelph.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie asked if there is money in the budget for repairs if the county units are damaged.
“In this winter response budget we are not incorporating damage costs,” Purdy said.
Budget 2026
The 2026 forecasted budget includes an allocation of $675,000 for seven months (January to April and October to December) of winter response plan costs.
The report proposes a cost of $820,600 for January to April, with additional costs needed to support October through December.
“At this time, no increase in funding from senior levels of government are available to offset these costs,” the report states.
“The entire increase in cost will impact the municipal tax levy.”
The committee recommended county council approve the report on Sept. 25.
