Results from community engagement on future Homelessness Support Centre

Sept 20, 2026

Results of the community engagement process will be presented at Oxford County Council on September 23, 2026. The report to Council provides an update on community feedback on the future Homelessness Support Centre and explains how that feedback will be incorporated into the design and operation of the centre when it opens in spring 2028.

Through the engagement process, community partners identified a range of challenges for those experiencing homelessness, including a lack of secure storage; barriers for specific populations (youth, seniors, those requiring health care); and limited access to basic amenities, like showers and laundry. This group cited a strength of the current system to be the strong level of cooperation and collaboration that exists among community partners.

Top concerns identified by the public included safety and neighbourhood impacts; services and operations (e.g., who is eligible, bed capacity, etc.); and cost and accountability (funding sources, decision-making, etc.).

The top concerns identified by people with lived experience with homelessness included the ability to leave and return throughout the day, 24-hour access, housing support, and showers.

The report to County Council outlines proposed actions for the concerns raised through the engagement process and identifies the tendering process as the next step to complete renovations on the facility. Ongoing updates will be posted to this page.

PS 2026-05: Homelessness Support Centre Engagement Feedback