“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable.” While the origins of this quote are disputed, the sentiment holds true across cultures and history. 
Three years ago, the first ever Coldest Night of the Year event held in Wingham was a heartwarming success. The event continues to attract lots of local support, and this year’s event will be held on February 22, 2025 – there is still time for you to participate, donate, or volunteer! While the event gives an opportunity for the community to walk together, raise money, and enjoy coming out of the cold, it helps remind us of the homelessness problem experienced by vulnerable people in our own communities that is largely hidden to many of us. 
That first CNOY event was held while we were just leaving Covid restrictions behind and finding our way back to our new normal. It was wonderful to see our community in northern Huron County come together on a cold February day to support each other. Funds raised by this event continue to support the Connection Centre that was opened in Wingham in 2023 to assist people experiencing homelessness. 
The Connection Centre, housed in the basement of St. Paul’s Trinity Anglican Church in Wingham, provides a safe space for people to get out of the cold or heat, have a shower, do some laundry, and have a light meal. The Centre is operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Huron Perth, with United Way Perth Huron raising funds for operation and maintenance. 
Local businesses have stepped up to sponsor both the CNOY event and to support the Connection Center throughout the year. Noah’s Pizza in Wingham has been donating pizzas every Tuesday since March 2024 to the Connection Centre, and Duck Duck Juice + Gym through a donation drive, collected a variety of much needed items for the Centre. 
More importantly, the Centre provides a place to connect with various support partners that can help people get back on their feet. The goal is not only to provide a temporary respite from the harsh realities of life, but also to help find more permanent and lasting solutions. People attending the Connection Centre can find support including trauma-informed care, substance use, and mental health counselling. The Connection Centre in Wingham has played a vital role in helping people find housing, with eight folks finding homes since October 2024.
There are lots of myths surrounding homelessness, and in our rural area it has been easy for many of us to believe that it does not exist in our community. However, use of the Connection Centre tells a different story and highlights the need. Since it opened in July 2023, the Centre has a higher per capita use than a similar Connection Centre located in Stratford. Between July 2023 and September 2024, there were 1078 visits to the centre, 843 meals served, 343 uses of the laundry facilities, and 250 showers.
The Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO) has just released a new report on the state of homelessness throughout the province https://www.amo.on.ca/. The report shows an increase of 25 per cent in homelessness since 2022, for an estimate of 81,515 people. Included in this is an estimated 41,512 people experiencing chronic homelessness, which is defined as people who experience prolonged or repeated episodes of homelessness. These numbers will always be estimates due to the nature of homelessness and its fluidity.  
Contrary to local myths, rural homelessness is not due to an influx of urban homeless people. The AMO report found that lack of support and transitional housing in smaller communities often means people must travel far distances, leaving their rural communities to seek shelter in urban areas that have more services. Northern Ontario and rural communities, due to geographic isolation, often have higher costs of living and transportation challenges that contribute to the problem. In addition, smaller rural communities often do not have the same support and services for specialized healthcare that can contribute to problems that lead to homelessness. 
There is a lot of shame associated with homelessness, which also helps to keep it hidden. Huron County conducted an enumeration on homelessness – “Everyone Counts”, during the week of November 29 through December 3, 2021. It can be easy to get caught up in numbers, but it helps to remember the people behind these statistics. 
The report helps us understand the issue, and the myths that often distort reality. Another common myth is that homeless people are all “addicts” or are too lazy to work. People with addiction issues live in all parts of our communities, both homeless and homed. The report reveals that abuse and conflict is one of the main reasons people are homeless. “In order to survive, many people who experience homelessness are constantly in search for the necessities of life such as food, shelter, and a source of income” 
The County of Huron’s 2022 Housing and Homelessness Annual Report describes concrete actions that have taken place to combat homelessness throughout the County. Several initiatives are part of the plan, including transitional housing, addiction supported housing, and support to prevent homelessness in the first place. In 2022, 177 people were supported through the Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Program, which helped people at risk from becoming homeless. 
The first CNOY event in Wingham saw 117 walkers representing 28 teams participating on a 2.5 km route through the town. The goal of $35,500 was smashed with a total of $41,311 raised within the community. Volunteers, donors, and walkers are already stepping up to meet this year's goal of $30,000. But Wingham isn’t the only CNOY event being held in Huron County. Goderich has a goal of raising $135,000 at their event, and Exeter is aiming to raise $50,000, with money raised staying in each community. More information and pictures are available on the CNOY website where you can find a location close to you, or see the various Coldest Night of the Year Facebook pages. ◊