On July 2nd, Norfolk County approved a 2026-27 investment plan to support housing stability and homelessness services across Haldimand-Norfolk. 

The plan includes $3,959,300 in approved funding, consisting of $3,610,000 in provincial funding and $349,000 from the municipal levy. The funding will be allocated across five areas: emergency solutions, community outreach and support, housing assistance, supportive housing, and administration. 

Homelessness is a widely discussed issue across Canada, including in Norfolk County. The investment plan sparked online debate, with residents expressing differing views on how best to address homelessness in the community. 

A County representative clarified that the investment does not represent new or additional funding.

“The County has not received more money; this information explains how the existing Homelessness Prevention Program allocation will be used,” the representative said.

While the funding is significant, demand and costs have continued to grow, so the County must prioritize services carefully and use the funds where they will have the most impact.” 

The County representative explained that the administration allocation covers the work required to manage and oversee the program.

“Administration is part of the program that makes sure funding is properly managed, reported, monitored and delivered in compliance with provincial requirements. It includes the financial oversight, reporting, contract management, data management, and program supervision to make sure public dollars are used for their intended purpose,” the representative said.

The representative added that “no additional staff are being requested for the Homelessness Prevention team at this time.”

Emergency solutions received the largest portion of the funding. The County describes emergency solutions as “the immediate crisis-response services for people who are homeless or are at the immediate risk of homelessness.”

These services can include emergency shelter or short-term accommodation, weather-related diversion where possible, support to exit emergency accommodation, and other crisis support while longer-term housing options are pursued.

The County representative said the emphasis on emergency solutions does not mean prevention is being overlooked.

“Emergency responses are not the end goal, but they are necessary when someone has no safe place to stay. Emergency solutions were prioritized because demand is high, costs have increased, and people in crisis need a safe, practical response. This does not mean prevention is less important. The intent is to meet people at different points on the housing continuum: before they lose housing, when they are in crisis, and when they need support to stabilize after being housed,” the representative said.

A longtime social services professional also offered their perspective on the investment and the subsequent online debate.

“The funding doesn’t stretch too far when you look at the root causes. To give the County credit, this around-four-million-dollar investment is impossible to do much with.”

“People need to be able to get treatment when they are ready to make that change, but it can take months to get into an OHIIP-funded bed, and just days to get into a privately paid bed. People need better aftercare when they leave mental health hospitalization. We need to address housing availability, housing affordability, who can get on ODSP and how much ODSP pays.”

Another recurring theme in community discussions about homelessness is the belief that Norfolk County has become a destination for people experiencing homelessness because of its methadone clinics.

The social services professional interviewed for this story does not believe that explanation reflects the broader reality, disputing the claim that Norfolk’s homelessness crisis can primarily be attributed to people arriving from other municipalities because of local methadone clinics.

“Everyone wants to make it about the methadone clinics and this concept that people are flocking here for them and that other municipalities are putting their unhoused on buses or in police cars and dumping them here with $200 to bribe them to relocate out of their area. Everyone wants to believe this isn’t truly a Norfolk problem, we’re far too good for this. But I don’t believe that’s true at all.”

“I’m sure there is some travel within the unhoused community since nothing is keeping you to one area, but it’s a very natural flow that moves both in and out of our area. For example, our unhoused will try going to Hamilton to see if there is more for them there. I think it’s rarely the opposite, because why would you? We have less services.” 

The County representative emphasized that addressing homelessness requires collaboration beyond municipal government.

“Homelessness cannot be addressed by the municipal government alone. We rely on relationships with non-profit service providers, housing providers, health and mental health partners, faith-based organizations, Indigenous and community organizations, and people with lived or living experience to understand what is happening on the ground,” the representative said.

The nearly $4-million investment is one part of a much larger effort to address homelessness in Norfolk County. Understanding how funding is allocated, the factors contributing to homelessness, and the misconceptions surrounding the issue can help move the conversation from debate toward action.