From Isolation to Inclusion: Reaching Homes Impact in Dufferin County

Funding provided through Reaching Home

Picture yourself in the shoes of someone facing homelessness, feeling utterly alone and disconnected from help. Your social ties are frayed, and you're unaware of the services within your community that may help. The path ahead seems uncertain. Where do you go from here?

Through the work of several small communities, Dufferin County has reduced chronic homelessness by more than 70%

Thanks to Anchor Social, a transformative program, Dufferin County, Ontario has created a community of support for people experiencing homelessness, leading a remarkable journey toward reducing homelessness. Together, they have forged social connections, offering a lifeline to people at risk of homelessness through coordinated resources and services.

Anchor Social operates at the Mel Lloyd Centre in the community of Shelburne once per month and reaches the isolated corners of North Dufferin. Ensuring that no one is left behind, Anchor Social empowers individuals included on Dufferin County's Unique Identifier or By-Name List, helping them find a sense of belonging, ongoing support, and services, even after securing permanent housing. The program is also able to provide warm meals, thanks to donations.

Anchor Social has been a success for Dufferin County. It continues to grow in attendance and impact each week, continually connecting people included on the list with community services and support. It has also allowed service providers to streamline ongoing communication and social engagement with these individuals.

The county's dedication, combined with partnerships like Reaching Home, exemplifies the power of community, empathy, and determination. Together, these communities are creating a county where everyone has a place to call home.

For more information, visit:

• Explore Dufferin Guide
• About Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy
• National Housing Strategy

What is Reaching Home?

Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness that provides funding and support to urban, Indigenous, territorial, and rural and remote communities across Canada.

Quick facts about Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy:

• Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy was launched in 2019. It supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy and aims to eliminate chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by 2027–28.
• Reaching Home supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy which recognizes that safe and affordable housing is at the heart of every strong community.
• On April 1, 2023, the Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy was transferred from Employment and Social Development Canada to Infrastructure Canada. This transfer was a structural change within the Government of Canada and had no impact on the nature or funding of the Reaching Home program.