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.
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:
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
City of Peterborough – Systems Manager
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:
Applications can include, but is not limited to:
| Funds available for use between Oct 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | Creating, Preserving, and Enabling Equitable Access to Housing Stock | $ 110,000 |
| Eviction Prevention and/or Outreach | $ 74,004 | |
| Funds available for use between Apr 1 2027 – Mar 31 2028 | Creating, Preserving, and Enabling Equitable Access to Housing Stock | $ 300,000 |
| Eviction Prevention and/or Outreach | $ 130,390 |
Eligible Organizations
Eligible and Ineligible Activities
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 an independent Review Committee composed of members of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) or community members with deep understanding of the issues of homelessness within Peterborough and County. Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will only be reviewed once all other applications are processed.
| Jul 10 2026 | Request for Proposals opens |
| Aug 04 2026 | Request for Proposals closes |
| Aug 07-14 2026 | Application evaluation by Review Committee |
| Aug 19 – Sep 2026 | Funding approvals by Community Advisory Board and UWP Board of Directors |
| Throughout Sep 2026 | Applicants notified and contracts signed |
Applications 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.
| CRITERIA | MAX POINTS |
| 1. Organizational Capacity & Readiness | 10 |
| 2. Project Description & Community Alignment | 20 |
| 3. Demonstrated Need & Rationale | 15 |
| 4. Project Feasibility & Target Population | 10 |
| 5. Outcomes, Deliverables & Evaluation | 20 |
| 6. Sustainability & Exit Strategy | 5 |
| 7. Partnerships & System Integration | 10 |
| 8. Budget, Financial Clarity & Value for Money | 10 |
| Total available points | 100 |
Email your completed application form and additional documents to: reachinghome@uwpeterborough.ca
IMPORTANT:
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.
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
Clue number TWO✌️!
Every great leader has a story. Can you find the words that help tell the story of our 2026 Campaign Chair?
Drop your guesses below👇…
👀 The first clue has arrived!
Every great leader brings something special to the table, and these six emojis represent just a few things that make our 2026 Campaign Chair who they are ✨
Can you guess who it might be🤔?
22% of Canadians live with a disability.
41% of people in poverty have a disability.
Those numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re a call to action.
This #DisabilityPrideMonth, United Way Peterborough & District stands with people with disabilities to break barriers and build communities where everyone belongs.
We invest in accessible community programs and barrier-reduction initiatives as part of a strategic response to this gap.
🤝❤️
Canada looks like the neighbour who checks in. The volunteer who shows up. The community that holds space for everyone.
This July 1, we recommit to a Canada where every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our office is closed today, Wednesday July 1 and will reopen tomorrow, Thursday July 2.
Looking for support? Dial 211 to be connected to non-emergency community health and social services in our area.
Day of Caring = a day to remember! 💙☀️
This past Friday, more than 40 incredible volunteers from workplaces across Peterborough and County came together to support 7 of our amazing partner agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters, The John Howard Society of the Kawarthas, New Canadians Centre, PARN, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Elizabeth Fry Society, and YES Shelter.
What started as a cloudy morning turned into a beautiful sunny day, perfect for gardening, landscaping, lending a hand at a community block party, and making a real difference. In just a few short hours, these dedicated teams accomplished so much. Many hands truly do make light work! 🌱
We`re so grateful to each volunteer and to our valued sponsors who made this day possible:
💙 Friend Sponsors: Van de Bor Paving Ltd. and Kawartha Dairy
🥤 In-Kind Sponsor: The Market Lakefield for keeping our volunteers refreshed throughout the day
⭐ Presenting Sponsor: Miskin Law for their generous contribution of $5,000 toward building a stronger Peterborough
Thank you to everyone who made this year`s Day of Caring such a success. We can`t wait to see what we continue to accomplish together in 2026!
Our grand finale retirement prank: a boardroom full of Jim’s!
Thanks for the laughs, Jim.
The end of another school year is drawing near, and we’re feeling oh so grateful for all of the incredible educators in our community! 🙏🍎
We want to help you say “thank you” to an educator who’s made a difference in your life this year with a United Way “Good Apple Award”. Every certificate purchased directly supports United Way’s Backpacks for Success initiative, supplying students in Peterborough & County with the materials they need to be successful in the 2026/27 school year.
🔗 Visit the link in our bio to get your certificate today!
Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
We celebrate the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
Let’s continue learning and reflecting together
Happy Father’s Day 💙
Your love and guidance help build stronger communities.
Today, United Way Peterborough & District is announcing an important leadership transition.
As Jim Russell prepares to retire after nearly 15 years as Chief Executive Officer, we extend our deepest gratitude for his leadership, dedication, and commitment to building a stronger community. Jim`s impact on this organization and the people we serve will be felt for years to come.
At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Jason Seguya as our next Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6, 2026. Jason brings experience leading mission-driven organizations and a strong commitment to collaboration, community engagement, and positive social impact.
As we look ahead to our 85th year of serving Peterborough & County, we are excited for the future and confident in the leadership that will guide us into this next chapter.
Please join us in thanking Jim for his years of service and welcoming Jason to the United Way movement.
Read more at the link in our bio.
After nearly nine years with United Way Peterborough & District, we’re saying goodbye (but not really goodbye) to Rhonda Gilchrist as she begins an exciting new chapter as Executive Director of The Mount Community Centre. Rhonda has been a steady hand, a fierce advocate, a problem solver, and a champion for this community in every sense of the word.
For those of us lucky enough to work alongside her, we’ll miss her wisdom, her humour, the stories of her beloved pets, her unwavering dedication, and her ability to somehow make even the most challenging days feel manageable.
While we’re sad to see her go, we couldn’t be happier to see her step into a role that aligns so perfectly with her passion for building a stronger, more connected community.
Thank you, Rhonda, for everything you’ve given to United Way, to our team, and to Peterborough. We can’t wait to see all the incredible things you’ll accomplish next. Please join us in congratulating Rhonda!
