FAQs

The Homelessness Support Centre will offer emergency shelter, but its main purpose is to transition people out of homelessness. It will have on-site professionals to help unhoused people find employment, mental health and addictions support, permanent housing, and other types of support. There is also a plan to have on-site security, and office space will be made available to other community agencies. 

Homelessness is one of the top concerns in our communities. Oxford County has looked at how other communities have addressed this issue, and has been working with a Council committee-- the Homelessness Support Centre Ad-Hoc Committee of Council-- to find a location to operate the centre. More information can be found in Council Report HS 2025-04 – Homelessness Support Strategy and the Oxford County Homelessness Response Strategy document.

We know that funding more shelter beds is not enough to make a change. The support centre will focus on addressing the root causes of homelessness-- for instance, mental health and addictions, or lack of access to appropriate support services-- with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of people in our community who are unhoused. 

The Centre will serve residents from across Oxford County who are unhoused or at the risk of becoming homeless.

Oxford County purchased the building at 808 Dundas Street for $4.55 million. Renovations are estimated at $3 million, and other legal and administrative are estimated at $250,000. These costs are being funded through the County’s housing reserve funds (up to $5.55 million), a Building Faster Fund contribution from the City of Woodstock ($2.05 million), and the Federal Safe Restart fund ($200,000). 

The ongoing costs to operate the new support centre are estimated at $2.4 million per year, which will be primarily funded through Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program. Right now, the County allocates approximately $1.9 million in provincial funding each year on shelter services and homelessness support.   

This is routine practice when municipalities purchase property. The criteria in the Municipal Act that allows County Council to discuss privately the purchase of the property, including how much Oxford County could offer for the purchase, is:

• a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality [s. 239(2)(c)]
• a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value or potential monetary value and proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the County or local board [s. 239(2)(i)]

Keeping offers confidential until a sale closes helps us negotiate a fair price for tax dollars and reduces legal risks for all parties involved. 

Since 2023, County Council has considered a number of properties. None of the alternative locations were selected due to factors including cost, size, renovation needs, zoning, availability, and proximity to other community services.

The County is committed to working with the community to support the success of this project. This includes prioritizing the needs of future Homelessness Support Centre guests, staff, and the broader community. The potential impacts to residents and businesses in the area are always a consideration; however, it would not be possible to consult with the public during an active offer period for every potential location that is considered. 

Staff is bringing a report forward to County Council in June that will provide details on future community engagement, including how public feedback will be considered and addressed.   

The community, particularly residents and businesses in the area, will be updated throughout the project leading up to the Homelessness Support Centre’s anticipated opening in spring 2028, as well as in the months after the opening.

Residents and businesses in the area will receive information through direct mail. The broader community will be updated through our regular channels: media updates, social media, the Oxford County website and more. Ongoing updates and an opportunity to submit feedback can be found at any time on Speak Up, Oxford! at www.oxfordcounty.ca/speakup 

Further details will be included in the staff report coming to County Council in June, including details about future community engagement and how public feedback will be considered and addressed.