Reaching Home: Apply for Funding

Homelessness is one of the most devastating obstacles that an individual can face. The idea of not having a safe place to sleep every night, a roof over your head or a shelter from the unbearable heat and frigid nights that our communities face is something that most of us don’t ever have to think about.
But for more than 129,000 Canadians, that is a daily reality.

United Way Peterborough & District (UWP) is pleased to announce that a Reaching Home (RH) Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open for application. As the Community Entity, UWP manages the Reaching Home program on behalf of the Government of Canada. Government of Canada provides funding to UWP that is invested locally to support individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at a risk of becoming homeless.

NOTICE: Upcoming Indigenous Initiatives Application Process – Reaching Home Funding

United Way Peterborough & District, as the Community Entity responsible for administering the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy locally, is announcing an upcoming initiative to create new, targeted opportunities within Reaching Home funding for Indigenous initiatives. This work will include the development of a strengths-based application process specifically designed for Indigenous-led initiatives and Indigenous partnerships, informed by Indigenous leadership and community engagement.

Important clarification:
This initiative will not affect the current Reaching Home application process. Organizations are strongly encouraged to continue identifying Indigenous partners, collaborations, and Indigenous-focused initiatives within existing and future Reaching Home applications. Applicants should not be dissuaded from including Indigenous partnerships or Indigenous-serving work while this new process is under development.

The targeted guidelines and application process for Indigenous initiatives are anticipated to be released and open by March 31, 2026. Further details, including eligibility criteria and information sessions, will be shared in advance of the launch.

Application Checklist

For your application to be considered complete and to proceed through the review process, please ensure that the following documents are included in the emailed submission:

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Reaching Home supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy, in particular, to support the most vulnerable Canadians in maintaining safe, stable and affordable housing and to reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by fiscal year 2027 to 2028.

Reaching Home operates through a model known as Coordinated Access (CA). Coordinated Access supports communities in prioritizing individuals who are in most need of assistance and then matching them to appropriate housing and services. This system aims to ensure fairness while streamlining access to housing and services.

All housing and homelessness agencies must participate in Coordinated Access. The ways that each specific agency functions within Coordinated Access will differ depending on the nature of their project and will be described within the funding agreement. An overview of the roles and responsibilities within Coordinated Access have been included below.

Reaching Home-Funded Agencies are required to:

  • Utilize and record data in a centralized database – Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) – that collects and displays real-time data on clients and available housing supports. This includes actively adding individuals to the Unique Identifier List (UIL) using HIFIS
  • Conduct assessments using a standardized tool
  • Utilize standardized protocols to match individuals with available housing and/or program vacancies based on project-specific eligibility, needs, and preferences
  •   Identify housing and/or program vacancies and providing this information to the Systems Manager
  • Fill any housing and/or program vacancies through the Coordinated Access system  
  • Collaborate on training, reviewing processes, and identifying opportunities for improvement

The Coordinated Access system is supported by UWP as the Community Entity and the City of Peterborough as the Systems Manager. Their responsibilities include:

United Way Peterborough & District – Community Entity

  • Oversight of the Coordinated Access system to ensure its compliance with the minimum standards established by the Government of Canada
  • Reporting progress and compliance to the Government of Canada, including the publicly available Community Homelessness Report
  • Establishing and monitoring standards for participating in Coordinated Access that are specific to each funded project
  • Establish and lead governance efforts including the Community Advisory Board (CAB) that functions as the local organizing committee responsible for setting direction and priorities for addressing homelessness
  • Support the City of Peterborough as the Systems Manager

City of Peterborough – Systems Manager

  • Support United Way Peterborough & District as the Community Entity for Reaching Home
  • Operate as the Coordinated Access Lead and HIFIS Lead as identified to the federal government through Reaching Home documentation
  • Develop and maintain the Coordinated Access Guide including a systems map
  • Oversight and administration of the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) database. This includes developing and administering legal, privacy, and consent processes, identifying training needs, onboarding and supporting agencies using the database, ensuring data quality and problem-solving issues
  • Maintaining a database of housing units and supports within the system and leading the prioritization and matching of individuals when vacancies become available
  • Working with RH-funded agencies to fill vacancies through the Coordinated Access system, including internal transfers
  • Supporting agencies providing emergency shelter and housing programs in systems navigation and collaborative case planning

Funding applications will be reviewed for their alignment to the community priority that had been identified based on consultations with the CAB, the community, and RH-funded agencies, specifically:

Creating, preserving, and enabling equitable access to housing stock

Projects that aim to create, preserve and enable equitable access to housing stock in the community are seen to result in lasting benefits to the individuals being served and a strengthened response to homelessness by the homeless-serving agencies.

This could include but is not limited to:

  • Continuing a program/service with proven success that is no longer being funded by another source
  • Expanding a program/service based on demonstrated need that falls outside of the parameters of other funding sources
  • Developing a new program/service that fills a gap in current program/service offerings
  • Investing in capital acquisitions/repairs that would increase or preserve housing stock

Year 1: Funds available for use between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027: $844,369
Year 2: Funds available for use between April 1, 2027, and March 31, 2028: $882,309

  • Funding Period April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028
  • There is no restriction or maximum limit on the amount of funding an applicant may request.
  • The quantity and quality of proposals received will determine the number of projects funded and the amount of funding each project receives.

Eligible Organizations

  • Not-for-profit and For-profit organizations
  • Funding is open to all eligible organizations regardless of whether they currently receive or have previously received Reaching Home or United Way funding
  • Organizations currently working within the Coordinated Access System and using HIFIS; or can undertake the training and onboarding into the Coordinated Access System and HIFIS database upon project approval.

Eligible and Ineligible Activities

  • Eligible and Ineligible activities are described in detail in the attached document
  • Eligible activities and expenses are grouped into the following five (5) priority areas:
    • Housing Services
    • Prevention and shelter diversion
    • Client Support services
    • Capital Investments
    • Coordination of Resources and Data Quality Improvement

Reaching Home-Funded agencies are required to participate in the following:

Proposals that are complete and submitted on or before the deadline will be evaluated by the Community Advisory Board (CAB). Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will only be reviewed once all other applications are processed.

Proposals will be scored using a standard rubric to assess the project’s alignment to the community priorities, outcomes and deliverables identified in this Request for Proposal.

Proposals received will be scored based on the following criteria:

Email your completed application form and additional documents to: reachinghome@uwpeterborough.ca

IMPORTANT:

  • The deadline for completed applications has been extended to January 29th, 2026
  • Incomplete applications or applications received after this deadline will only be reviewed after all other applications have been processed.
  • UWP will send an email to confirm receipt of your application. If you do not receive a confirmation within two business days of sending, please follow up with an email to the address indicated above.
  • Applications must be submitted via email in the original fillable PDF (application) and Excel (Budget and Staff Summary) format.
  • Sustainability plans and letters of support can be sent in either word or PDF format.
  • Please do not submit any documents other than those requested.

UWP reserves the right to ask for additional information as the review process moves forward.

If you have other questions about the funding application or budget form, please refer to the REACHING HOME APPLICATION AND BUDGET GUIDE first. All additional questions regarding this RFP should be directed to: reachinghome@uwpeterborough.ca

Coaching appointments are available upon request and encouraged. Questions will be responded to as soon as possible and applicants are encouraged to ask questions early in the application period. It is not guaranteed that UWP will be available to answer your questions on the day that the applications are due.

Learn More About Reaching Home

Reaching Home Funding Opportunities: www.uwpeterborough.ca/funding
Community Homelessness Reports: www.uwpeterborough.ca/reports
Reaching Home – Peterborough Community Plan 2024-28: www.uwpeterborough.ca/reports

Social Posts

We had such an amazing time at our 2025 Campaign Celebration last Thursday, celebrating our community coming together to raise an astounding $1.56 million in support of essential, front-line programs and services❤️!

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We had such an amazing time at our 2025 Campaign Celebration last Thursday, celebrating our community coming together to raise an astounding $1.56 million in support of essential, front-line programs and services❤️!

🌎💙 Health is about more than medicine — it’s about community.

Access to housing, food, mental health support, and connection all shape our well-being.

This World Health Day, we’re committed to building stronger, healthier communities for everyone.

#WorldHealthDay

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🌎💙 Health is about more than medicine — it’s about community. Access to housing, food, mental health support, and connection all shape our well-being. This World Health Day, we’re committed to building stronger, healthier communities for everyone. #WorldHealthDay

Our office will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6, an will reopen on Tuesday, April 7.

Have a safe and restful long weekend!

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Our office will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6, an will reopen on Tuesday, April 7. Have a safe and restful long weekend!

At United Way Peterborough & District, we believe in building a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included. Autism is part of the rich diversity that strengthens our community.

Let’s move beyond awareness and continue working toward acceptance, accessibility, and meaningful inclusion for all.

#WorldAutismAwarenessDay

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At United Way Peterborough & District, we believe in building a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included. Autism is part of the rich diversity that strengthens our community. Let’s move beyond awareness and continue working toward acceptance, accessibility, and meaningful inclusion for all. #WorldAutismAwarenessDay

Today marks the beginning of our new campaign season and with that, we must sadly announce… more

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Today marks the beginning of our new campaign season and with that, we must sadly announce… more

Today Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️⚧️

We celebrate the courage, resilience, and contributions of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people who make our communities stronger every day.

Let’s keep fostering a culture of inclusion and respect for all!

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Today Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️⚧️ We celebrate the courage, resilience, and contributions of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people who make our communities stronger every day. Let’s keep fostering a culture of inclusion and respect for all!

#ThrowbackThursday reminiscing on more than 80 years of building community in Peterborough & District ❤️.

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#ThrowbackThursday reminiscing on more than 80 years of building community in Peterborough & District ❤️.

We’ll always remember this campaign, and the incredible leadership behind it 💫

Over the past year, Paul has brought dedication, energy, and heart to every part of this campaign. From milestone moments to the quiet work behind the scenes, his commitment never wavered (even when it meant going back up on the roof!).

Now, it’s time to celebrate everything this community has accomplished together.

🎉 Join us at Campaign Celebration on April 9th
🎟️ Get your tickets today [link in bio]

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Open post by unitedwayptbo with ID 17864024850664236
We’ll always remember this campaign, and the incredible leadership behind it 💫 Over the past year, Paul has brought dedication, energy, and heart to every part of this campaign. From milestone moments to the quiet work behind the scenes, his commitment never wavered (even when it meant going back up on the roof!). Now, it’s time to celebrate everything this community has accomplished together. 🎉 Join us at Campaign Celebration on April 9th 🎟️ Get your tickets today [link in bio]
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