Eighty-five thousand souls

The number 85,000 rang out like a carillon for us.

It wasn’t that long ago that number represented the population of Wellington County. Every man, woman and child was accounted for in the census of hamlets, sideroads, villages and towns.

A new AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) study, followed by a county press release, shared a similar headline: “More than 85,000 Ontarians were homeless in 2025.” 

AMO notes that without collective action by all three levels of government, homelessness in Ontario could double to 170,000 by 2035 and an economic downturn could see those numbers climb to 300,000 people without shelter.

This is all to say in relative terms, the problem of homelessness is significant with the scope of it staring us in the face every day. Imagine for a moment, every local interaction at a store, school or in your neighbourhood, every man, woman and child you meet is homeless. That is what 85,000 nameless faces represent.

This doesn’t include those who are underhoused, which is a term describing people living in cramped conditions or sleeping on a friend’s couch until housing options come up.

Wellington County, through its role as social services provider for the combined zone of Guelph-Wellington, notes a combined monthly homeless average at 263 individuals. While some solace can be gained in minimal head counts like that, in the light of day – especially after the cold snap and weather this past week – is there anyone content knowing only 263 people risked freezing to death last weekend? 

Heading to less affluent areas, or rural areas where services are limited if not non-existent, the number of potential casualties grows exponentially. Somewhere 85,000 souls suffer.

Many years ago, ironically while plowing snow at the office very early one morning, CBC hosted a talk with an author about the phrase, “But there for the grace of God go I.” Although a statement, it remains a riddle that rolls around in our head to this day. 

No one aspires at a young age to live their lives hand-to-mouth, let alone being homeless. Life happens and although choice factors into many poor outcomes, society can’t simply shrug off the meeting of basic needs. But it has. Politicians, the bureaucracy commanded by them and the public who votes every four years or so, are all complicit. This needs to change.

Whilst organizations point fingers looking for money, it is reminiscent of that story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. 

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

While AMO speaks of needing $11 billion over 10 years to develop 75,000 new affordable and supportive housing units, plus a further $2 billion over eight years for housing current encampment residents, far simpler strategies are available. But it takes a local champion(s) and politicians with backbone.

Although imperfect, before it was demolished the old Groves hospital site in Fergus would have accommodated the homeless on an interim basis. Yes, it had its flaws, but it was still shelter. For those who want to talk about asbestos and deficiencies, a short drive around the county will show numerous re-purposed buildings that overcame similar issues.

Since its hand-off by Centre Wellington to the province and the new Groves, the ability of the township to direct and guide its re-development into new housing of purpose has been hampered. This was an opportunity blown, which seems like a recurrent theme here.

The constant harping and red tape associated with planning has delayed two notable local developers trying to bring multi-residential projects to fruition. 

The continuum of care proposal for Wellington Place – researched prior to the explosion in housing prices – was a way to house active seniors, before requiring long-term care. While a blend of units was proposed, some purchased and others rented, of the 254-unit concept there is little doubt it would have freed up housing for those in the market. 

This economic activity in its most optimal form could have caused 762 units worth of movement in the housing market. Instead, and we fully understand the changes in economic circumstance rendering it a no-go, the seed money was divvied up between the lower tier municipalities. 

Another prime example of opportunity missed was a former water tower site in Fergus. Rather than insist on a blend of triplexes and fourplexes, single family residential homes occupy that space now.

The nature of an organization like AMO is to think big on behalf of member municipalities, but if the housing issues are ever to be fixed it will be through local communities thinking bigger and smarter every chance they get.

We do hope the challenge issued earlier in this column resonates and people look around and start to think a bit. 

A young mom shopping, a senior struggling in the snow, kids playing street hockey or building a snow fort, the business-person or even families nestled in the church pew – every person you come in contact with are a fraction of what 85,000 people look like. 

But there for the grace of God go we. Let’s think about that.