Last month I wrote about hunger, both locally and around the world. Today I am writing a little reminder for everyone of a closely related issue, homelessness. This issue is much more visible in our communities than it has been in the past, but it is not a new problem. The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event is one way that people in communities across Canada come together in February to help.
A new report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) calls homelessness a crisis. It is a problem that is now growing faster in rural and northern areas than in the cities, with homelessness growing by 30 percent in rural areas over the past year. In 2023, there were an estimated 1,400 encampments. That number has risen to 2,000 across the province in 2025. Ontario Big City Mayors, a group from the largest cities in the province have called on the province to declare a state of emergency over the humanitarian crisis.
CNOY has been helping communities organize to show they care and to raise money since 2011. In this time, over $75,000,000 have been raised in 190 Canadian communities. It began in two locations when Yonge Street Mission, Sanctuary Missions in Toronto, and Ray of Hope Community Centre in Kitchener/ Waterloo partnered with CNOY for the first event, which saw 440 participants and raised $111,800. In 2023, the number had grown to 182 locations with 37,580 participants raising $13,124,280.
United Way Perth-Huron is one of the primary organizations working in our community to fight homelessness. It does this through fundraising, working with other groups for various programs, and advocating at all levels of government to work for change more broadly. With community committees working throughout both counties, United Way Perth-Huron and CNOY work together to raise money for different projects that help address homelessness.
The Northern Huron and Area Community Committee had walks in Wingham, Blyth, and Lucknow. Goderich, Exeter, St. Marys, Stratford, and Listowel all had their own CNOY events and walks last month as well. While these walks are now past, you can still get involved by donating. And keep February CNOY in mind for next year if you are keen to volunteer, walk, or donate. You can check out their website at https://cnoy.org/home for more information.
CNOY is a great way for communities to come together to show that we care – no one wants to see people sleeping outside in our frigid Huron and Perth County winters. We also appreciate the local businesses who so generously support CNOY. In Northern Huron County – we thank Ideal Supply, Corteva Agriscience, Howick Mutual Insurance Company, Leslie Motors, Libro Credit Union, and McDonald’s Wingham. Many more businesses have contributed across the region.
One thing I love about all of this is that we can see the money raised is making a real difference in our community. In Northern Huron, we have Lisa Harper as our fearless leader. A life-long resident, through her job with United way, Lisa works tirelessly to raise funds - keeping the committee on track and moving forward. Well, she probably does get tired, but she always keeps going.
As a result of all of this, a Connection Centre opened in July 2023 in the Presbyterian Church in Wingham. It is currently open three afternoons a week – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12 pm to 5 pm. It is operated by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Huron Perth and has several volunteers who help with the day-to-day operations. The centre is driven by client-centred values, providing dignity and choice, and focuses on housing. “Because everyone deserves dignity, care, and respect.”
The Connection Centre is a place where people can get shelter from the heat or cold, do laundry, have a shower, and have some refreshments. But most importantly, as the name suggests, it is a place to form connections that can help people who have come on hard times to start rebuilding their lives. The Connection Centre partners with other local agencies, helping people access medical care, legal assistance, educational opportunities, and replacing necessary documents.
Since it opened in 2023, the Connection Centre in Wingham has had 2,000 visits. 20 people have found homes and two evictions have been prevented. In the three months between October 2025 and December 2025, there were 51 visitors, with between two and 16 people per day coming into the Centre. The CNOY goal for 2026 is $40,000 with all funds raised going to support the Connection Centre.
The walks throughout Huron and Perth raise funds for projects in communities across the region. Exeter has a goal of raising $65,000 this year to support the Connection Centre at the south end of town. Goderich has a goal of raising $150,000 that goes to supporting the Huron Homelessness Initiative that includes Artemis Huron, shelter supports for youth, the Bridge Housing and Stability Program, and transitional housing. North Perth has a goal of $58,500 that will support housing through the United Way’s Urgent Needs Fund, mental health counselling for families and individuals, as well as supporting long-term goals through United Housing. St. Marys has a goal of $56,000, which supports a community outreach worker and the Nourish Equal Access Market. Stratford’s goal is to raise $200,000 that goes to support the Stratford Connection Centre and Shelterlink Youth Service.
You can help by volunteering, donating, or walking with CNOY. United Way Perth-Huron always has great resources and information about how to help. By staying informed and working together, we can help reduce homelessness in all of our communities. ◊