United Way Announces Current Homelessness Response through Reaching Home Investment totalling $1.8 million

PETERBOROUGH, ON (February 2, 2023) – Today in the training centre of the John Howard Society on Stewart Street, United Way Peterborough & District CEO Jim Russell announced the current round of funding to address critical needs in our community related to homelessness. The United Way is the Community Entity for Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

A total investment of $1,798,667 was distributed to 8 community partners. This funding has been provided in addition to the ongoing, multi-year Reaching Home partnerships that the United Way holds with YES Shelter for Youth and Families, Fourcast, and the Elizabeth Fry Society.

“Our current shelter system is strained to meet the needs of all those community members experiencing homelessness. It is imperative that any investment is strategic, encourages partnerships, and puts the needs of those individuals, our neighbours, at the forefront of service and intervention” states Russell.

Joining Russell at today’s announcement were representatives from the following organizations:

  • Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge
  • Community Counselling and Resource Centre
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
  • One City Peterborough
  • Fourcast
  • John Howard Society of Peterborough
  • Research for Social Change Lab – Trent University
  • Peterborough Housing Corporation

The coalition of partners is dedicated to ending homelessness in Peterborough and will be administering programs encompassing outreach, supportive housing, purchasing housing stock, partnering with private sector landlords, transitional housing, research, winter warming room. Please see the attached summary for program descriptions and funding amounts.

Kathy Neill, Executive Director of the John Howard Society, who hosted the media event noted, “I am excited by the energy in this community and desire to work together as partners with the goal of ending homelessness.”

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Our government is committed to supporting our most vulnerable, especially those in the Peterborough area who are experiencing or are at risk of being homeless. We will continue to do our part to help those who need it most and ensure no one is left behind,” shared Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

This funding will run through until March 31st, 2024 noted Russell. “We all have a stake morally, economically and in particular as a human rights issue to end homelessness.”

For further information, please contact: Jim Russell
CEO, United Way Peterborough
E: jrussell@uwpeterborough.ca
T: 705-742-8839

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This year, we're sharing our running total by item type on our website [link in bio], so you can see what we have, and what we still need, as we aim to offer a greater diversity of product to residents experiencing period poverty. - We're also accepting monetary donations, which will allow us to purchase items in bulk.

Product donations will be accepted at the United Way office (277 Stewart Street), Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM until Friday March 13. [Please note: We are closed February 16 for Family Day, and February 26 for Peterborough Performs and will not be present to accept drop offs.] 

If you’d like to get more involved with our 2026 Period Promise campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team! We’d be happy to help you setup a collection at your workplace, share educational resources, or chat about any other ideas you may have.
From Campaign Launch to now - this community keeps showing up. We’re in the final stretch of our Community Campaign, and every act of generosity still matters ❤️!
When words aren’t enough to express how you feel, show your love with tickets to United Way Peterborough & District’s 50/50 raffle! 💖

For the month of love, we’re offering a guaranteed grand prize of ✨$1,000✨ A prize so irresistible, we wouldn’t blame you if you grabbed a few tickets for yourself too. 

👉 Still wondering if you should enter? Just know, that even if you don’t win, your community will. Fifty percent of the proceeds from every ticket sold go directly back to our community so we get the chance to spread the love throughout Peterborough.

🔗 Follow the link in our bio to enter our February 27th draw
🎉 Sponsor Spotlight: Friends of the Stage 🎉

💛 A huge thank you to our Friend of the Stage – Supporting Sponsors for stepping up in support of housing and homelessness initiatives in our community. Your contribution helps make this event possible, and we’re proud to celebrate you at the event and through our virtual auction presented by @llf_lawyers_llp (which launches in less than a week)!

Want to support this work and enjoy an incredible night of local live music and impact?

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now — grab yours and join us at the show on Thursday, February 27th from 7-11pm @ptboshowplace 

🔗 Link in bio
📣 Peterborough and County, we’re only $105,000 away from our $1.6 million Community Campaign goal!

There’s still time to get involved, and every dollar counts - make a donation, buy your 50/50 tickets, attend PTBO Performs VI (and bid on the virtual auction presented by @llf_lawyers_llp , too) and share this EXCITING news with your networks! 

We want it all ❤️ for our community. 

#BuildingCommunity #ChangingLives
The Community Clothing Hub at @path_ptbo will be open this Saturday, February 7th from 10am-3pm for families and individuals to come pick out coats, boots, hats & mitts. 

📍 385 Lansdowne St. East

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