Public information meeting for Homelessness Support Centre to take place July 15

Oxford County is hosting a public information meeting to share details, answer questions, and listen to feedback about the future Homelessness Support Centre in Woodstock.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
South Gate Centre – Boughtflower Room
191 Old Wellington Street South, Woodstock

The meeting will allow residents and businesses located in the area of the new shelter, 808 Dundas Street in Woodstock, as well as other members of the community to give input and ask questions on operational aspects of the support centre, safety and security, and other considerations. The meeting will include a presentation and a question-and-answer period.

For those unable to attend, details of the session will be shared with Oxford County Council at a future council meeting and posted to Speak Up, Oxford! at www.oxfordcounty.ca/speakup.

Residents and businesses in the area will receive a direct notice for the public meeting and will be notified again in advance of the County Council report.  

The Homelessness Support Centre, expected to open in spring 2028, will serve residents from across Oxford County who are unhoused or at the risk of becoming homeless. 

The centre will offer a single-location 24/7 emergency shelter model with 55 beds, meal areas, safe storage for personal belongings, on-site laundry, day programs, and on-site security.  It will also offer on-site professional staff to help unhoused people find employment, mental health and addictions support, permanent housing, and other services. Office space will also be made available to other community agencies.

Members of the public can learn more or submit comments and questions about the Homelessness Support Centre any time on Speak Up, Oxford! at www.oxfordcounty.ca/hsc.

Background 

• The new Homelessness Support Centre will co-locate Oxford County’s existing emergency shelter services into a single-location, 24/7 emergency shelter. It will offer on-site support services that are flexible and focused on transitioning individuals out of homelessness. The centre will be located at 808 Dundas Street in Woodstock, the former YMCA building, when it opens in spring 2028.
• The support centre will adopt a “low barrier” model, meaning more flexible stay requirements to provide immediate shelter access to vulnerable individuals. The centre will also take a housing-first approach, which prioritizes moving unhoused people rapidly from the street or emergency shelters into stable and long-term housing with appropriate supports.
• The new centre will work closely with Woodstock’s new Homelessness and Additions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub/Wellness Centre. The HART Hub/Wellness Centre, a voluntary treatment and recovery facility, is temporarily operating at 369 Huron Street in Woodstock until its permanent location opens at 16 Graham Street, the former Hydro One/Woodstock Hydro building.
• Oxford County’s Homelessness Response Strategy identifies the main factors contributing to homelessness in Oxford as mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence. Oxford’s records show that majority of unhoused people using Oxford County services are from Woodstock, with the remaining from other locations in Oxford County.
• Oxford County’s Homelessness Response Strategy was approved by County Council on March 26, 2025. As part of the strategy, County staff was directed to work with the City of Woodstock to acquire an appropriate property that would serve as a Homelessness Response Centre. 
• For more background information, see the June 1, 2026, announcement, “New Homelessness Support Centre in Woodstock marks next step toward Housing for all.”

About Oxford County 

Located in southwestern Ontario at the crossroads of Highways 401 and 403, Oxford County has a population of approximately 140,000 people across eight area municipalities that are “growing stronger together.” A partnership-oriented, two-tier municipal government, Oxford County is committed to 100% renewable energy, zero waste, zero poverty, and being 100% housed. Oxford County is situated in one of Ontario’s richest areas for farmland, with a diversified local economy that is home to an innovative agricultural industry, leading automotive manufacturers, and the Oxford County Cheese Trail. Oxford also offers a thriving local arts and culinary community, as well as conservation parks, natural areas and more than 100 kilometres of scenic trails. The County’s Strategic Plan puts forward a vision of “Working together for a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable future.” The Oxford County Administration Building is in Woodstock, Ontario. Visit www.oxfordcounty.ca, follow us on social media, or download our Facts and Stats to learn more.