GUELPH/WELLINGTON – Wellington County’s warden is feeling the community is more engaged in tackling the complex issue of homelessness after the housing symposium but the two-day event ended up as more of a brainstorming session and a future symposium is expected in the spring.
The County of Wellington hosted a housing symposium held Tuesday and Wednesday, not open to the public or media, bringing together local decision-makers such as the City of Guelph, service providers and those with lived experience to discuss integrated health and housing challenges in the community.
In a phone interview Thursday following the symposium, Warden Andy Lennox said it would be premature to talk about what concrete actions on housing and homelessness would result from this symposium.
“I think really, it was kind of like a brainstorming session in some ways in that we were looking at ways and what would be most effective to address (homelessness),” Lennox said. “There will be a report coming out of it to kind of talk about what next steps should be but it’s going to have to involve a collective of people across multi-functions that are dealing with or looking to help people in this predicament.”
One of the more valuable lessons Lennox took away from the symposium was hearing from those who have lived experience, how they fall through the cracks which showed where the gaps are.
For example, someone who gets clean from a substance abuse disorder can’t find housing after treatment and ends up back on the streets where they associate with the same people they did before or someone who has spent time in prison has nowhere to go when they’re released.
“There’s people that are not transitioning well through various aspects of our society and getting caught up and ending up homeless again,” Lennox said.
Whatever comes out of the discussions, Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said he hopes the county comes back with “meaningful depth and action” to address the crisis.
“Coming out of it, I feel really motivated knowing that there’s this large group of community members that are pulling together, breaking down silos, willing to share resources and to come together with plans for really making a dent in finding people the help that they need.”
“It’s unbelievable how complex it is,” Guthrie said of homelessness, noting the multiple government jurisdictions and agencies involved. “So much of it is health-related.”
Luisa Artuso, the county’s social services administrator, said in an email she also considered the symposium to be a success and has set a good foundation for a health and housing community plan.
“The symposium offered essential information and momentum needed to move forward,” Artuso said. “I don’t feel we would be in a position to start the creation of an action plan without the foundation set at the symposium.”
Politicians and county employees aren’t the only ones who left the symposium feeling optimistic that solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis will flow from it.
Jason Schwartzentruber, who attended as a community member with lived experience, said the event saw “a lot of good ideas” put forward. He’s looking forward to seeing what recommended actions county staff ultimately put forward.
“We did have a lot of good discussions,” Schwartzentruber said, explaining he took part in group discussions, asked and answered questions, and generally provided input.
“From my perspective, it was very helpful to see the genuine concern from the higher-ups, whether at the county or each group that was invited,” he continued. “I am optimistic about it, as long as they don’t just do the same old, same old.”
Artuso said social services will receive a roll up of all information collected and a full report with next steps is expected at the March social services committee meeting.
A similar event is planned for April 9 at the Delta Hotel in Guelph with details expected in March.