2025-2026 United Way WRC_Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 26
Affordable Housing
& Homelessness
A safe, stable home is the foundation for health, wellbeing, and opportunity.
Across Waterloo Region, too many people face housing
instability, homelessness, and barriers to securing or
maintaining affordable housing. Investing in emergency
shelters, eviction prevention, and long-term and transitional
housing solutions can help people find stability, prevent
homelessness, and build pathways toward a more secure
future.
The Focus
Homelessness prevention
Emergency shelter
Transitional housing
Supportive housing
Finding and securing housing
Homelessness research and
advocacy
The Issues
Housing policy expert Dr. Carolyn Whitzman
warns that it would take 1000+ years
at the current pace of building affordable
housing, to eliminate homelessness and
core housing needs in Canada.
Chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region
has increased by 129% since 2020.
If current trends continue, the number of
residents experiencing chronic
homelessness could triple by 2028.
11,352
people accessed housing
and homelessness services
and supports.
$500,000
was invested into affordable
housing and homelessness
supports
15%
of calls to 211 in
Waterloo Region
were related to
housing needs.
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