YMCA Rural Housing and Homelessness Outreach
Adequate housing is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a foundation for safety, dignity, stability, and hope. At the YMCA, we believe everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home – free from discrimination or harassment.
YMCA Rural Housing and Homelessness Outreach works to prevent, address and reduce homelessness in Bruce County. We approach this work with compassion, respect, and a commitment to the belief that housing is a human right.
We Do This By:
- Assisting people in need of emergency shelter
- Providing advocacy and referrals to community services
- Working with individuals and families to create and implement an action plan to secure long term sustainable housing that meets their needs
We connect individuals and families with safe emergency shelter options. Our team responds quickly to help people find safety, stability and the support they need in a housing or shelter emergency.
Our team visits suspected or identified encampments to check on residents’ well-being, deliver basic supplies such as water, food, warm clothing and sanitation supplies. Work is done to engage with those who are forced to live outside and connect them with our Outreach team, housing opportunities and necessary support services.
If you know of an encampment, please contact us so we can reach out to individuals in that area.
Housing stability often depends on having the right financial supports in place. We help tenants and landlords access programs that can prevent eviction, such as:
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
- Ontario Works (OW)
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Rental arrears, and home ownership programs
If you or your tenant are struggling to keep up with bills we can help identify and apply for assistance before eviction becomes a reality.
Navigating housing systems can be complex. We provide advocacy to ensure people’s rights are respected and connect them to community services that address their unique needs. We work closely with local service providers and municipal partners to coordinate, support, remove barriers and find safe housing that lasts.
Who We Support:
Adults in Bruce County, (in partnership with Bruce County Housing)
Youth in Grey or Bruce County, aged 16+
Transportation can be a barrier in our rural communities. That’s why our Outreach Workers meet clients in locations that are easiest and safest for them to access.
Our Commitment to Ending Homelessness
Housing is not a privilege – it’s a human right. Without it, other fundamental rights like health, education, and security are at risk. At the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, we work every day to challenge stigma, address barriers, and advocate for systemic change so that everyone in our community has the opportunity to live in dignity.
Together, we can create a community where everyone has a place to call home.
Contact Us:
If you are experiencing homelessness, at risk of losing your housing, or know someone who is, please reach out to our team at:
or 211 for after-hours support. We are here to help.
Homelessness Isn't always What You Think
The reality is, homelessness can happen to anyone. It is often the result of systemic barriers, unaffordable housing, job loss, health challenges, or unexpected life events.
Myth: Homelessness is always the result of poor personal choices.
Fact: Homelessness can happen to anyone. Job loss, illness, family breakdown, rising housing costs and lack of affordable housing are some of the most common causes.
Myth: People experiencing homelessness should “just get a job”.
Fact: Many people without housing are employed, often in part-time or low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to cover rent. Others face barriers like lack of transportation, childcare, or affordable housing options. Stable housing makes it possible for people to find and keep meaningful work.
Myth: Homelessness is caused by drug use.
Fact: Many people turn to substances as a way to cope with trauma, stress, or the unsafe living conditions of living without stable housing. Every person deserves compassion, support and access to safe housing. Having a home is an important step toward recovery and well-being.
Tenant Resources
- Bruce County Housing Stability Fund Application
If you are a Bruce County resident who needs assistance with utility arrears, rent arrears, first or last month’s rent and/or moving expenses please visit this website to complete your application. - Ontario Electricity Support Program
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Ontario Works – Bruce County
- Ontario Works – Grey County
- RESP Assistance for Children Born January 1, 2004 or After
- Grey Bruce Poverty Task Force
- Your Guide to Renting a Home
Whether you are a first-time renter or an experienced tenant, this section will help you look for and evaluate potential accommodations and understand your rights and responsibilities. Links to useful worksheets and sample letters are also included. - Eviction Solution Explorer can help you if your landlord is trying to evict you because of unpaid rent. It asks you questions about your situation, gives you information to help you answer them, and creates documents based on your answers. It’s free to use.
- Door to Door Sales and Home Service Contracts
Know your rights when you sign a contract at your door. Learn about avoiding common door-to-door scams for water heaters, home heating, and other services. - Ontario tenants now have additional protection from eviction
When a landlord ends a tenancy to have family members move in, people evicted must receive compensation.
The following worksheets and sample letters can help you from the beginning of your rental search to the end of your tenancy.
Landlord Resources
- Landlord’s Self Help Centre
- Bed Bug Information
- Landlord’s Self Help Centre
- Your Guide to Renting a Home – Landlords Whether you rent multiple units in a high-rise or an apartment in your basement, you need to know many things about finding tenants and making your rental business work to your advantage. This section covers key business and legal aspects of being a landlord or a property manager.
- Hydro Upgrades for Landlords Hydro One is working with housing providers to help tenants reduce their energy use. If your building qualifies for the Home Assistance program, your tenants could receive FREE energy-efficient upgrades to make their homes more comfortable and help you better manage electricity costs.
- Ontario tenants now have additional protection from eviction When a landlord ends a tenancy to have family members move in, people evicted must receive compensation.
View our series of Landlord Voices on YouTube, which includes information and discussion from landlords in Grey Bruce.