Homelessness support
Oxford County works with community partners to address homelessness by helping individuals find and keep a home where they feel comfortable, safe, and part of their community.
We do this through a Coordinated Access approach that supports individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness by connecting them to community supports such as financial assistance, social services, health care, and other support systems.
Coordinated Access works to make services for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, easier to navigate. It focuses on a Housing-First approach, using up-to-date information about housing needs and availability. This system creates clear entry points to services, a consistent process for assessing needs and setting priorities, and a way to match people quickly with available housing and supports.
A By-Name List (BNL) is a real-time list of people in Oxford County who are experiencing homelessness. It tracks important information to help connect people to the right services, understand how many people are entering and leaving homelessness, and identify what resources and policies are needed to help reduce homelessness.
Anticipated implementation in 2026.
The Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) is a comprehensive data collection and case management system that enables participating service providers within the same community to access, collect, and share local real-time homelessness data to ensure individuals and families accessing services are prioritized and referred to appropriate services at the correct time.
Pathway through the homelessness system
An entry point is the service or location where an individual that is experiencing or at risk of homelessness first reaches out for support.
An entry point can be any community provider that participates in Coordinated Access, from an emergency shelter to the Oxford County Human Services Department.
If you are not sure where to start to help someone experiencing or at risk of homelessness, please contact Oxford County Human Services:
519-539-9800 ext. 3390
humanservices@oxfordcounty.ca
21 Reeve Street, Woodstock
Oxford County staff complete “Entry Point Management” activities with the individual.
This includes the completion of consents, creating or updating information, and referral to safety and diversion services.
The goal of Entry Point Management and Diversion is to learn about an individual’s specific housing situation and to determine if safe alternatives to housing are available. Individuals who provide consent are then placed on the By-Name List for continued case management and support.
Whenever possible, the goal is to provide individuals with resources or supports that allow them to access a suitable housing option. If this is not possible, individuals are then directed to emergency shelter accommodations.
The individual participates in case planning as soon as possible.
Individuals are prioritized on the BNL (By-Name List) based on a locally defined factors, including level of severity. These factors include length of time experiencing homelessness, sleeping location, presence of mental health / physical health / and substance use issues, age, Indigenous identity, domestic violence/human trafficking/abuse, and families / households.
Oxford County's prioritization factors were determined by reviewing other communities’ approaches and working with community partners within the County’s homelessness system.
When a suitable housing opportunity is identified for an individual on the BNL (By-Name List), the individual is provided with an opportunity to determine if the housing option is appropriate for their situation. Once determined, the individual is provided with support services to help ensure a successful housing outcome.
Following Step 6, Human Services and community partner staff continue to provide ongoing support to help make the new housing situation a successful and permanent one. This includes regular and frequent check-ins to ensure the housing situation is stable, rent and utilities are paid, and appropriate referrals are made to other services the individual may need to be self-sustaining.
Street outreach
Encampment response
The term "encampment" is used to reference an area where an individual or a group of people experiencing homelessness stay together, often in tents or other temporary structures.
Encampments have become more prevalent across Canada. As such, there is urgency for governments at all levels to ensure that their approach to supporting those that reside in encampments upholds their human rights and dignity.
Below are some common questions that are asked regarding encampments.
There are a number of reasons why an individual may stay in an encampment, including:
- Fear for personal safety
- Too many rules
- Potential loss of belongings
- Do not want to separate from pets
- Do not want to separate from partners
In addition to the reasons listed above, there are compounding systemic factors that can lead to the experience of unsheltered homelessness, such as historical trauma, oppression, and racism, and discrimination among those with diverse identities.
Oxford County maintains a coordinated approach to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and in encampments. This means we work with many partners to help ensure the best outcome.
- Outreach staff connect daily with individuals experiencing homelessness, or those who may need assistance, to ensure immediate needs are met.
- Community partners work collectively with the County to provide outreach, emergency shelter, housing case management, and referrals to other needed services.
- The County works closely with these partners to support and plan for long-term housing solutions. This includes monitoring the number of individuals accessing and in need of services to ensure adequate planning for the future happens.
- Oxford County also works closely with area municipalities to support people living in encampments, while also supporting the application of local by-laws that guide the use of public spaces.
Contact the Oxford County Human Services at humanservices@oxfordcounty.ca or 519-539-9800 ext. 3390.
Details about location and any other relevant information will be collected to ensure outreach organizations can locate the site and offer appropriate support.
Looking for more information?
- Do you or someone you know need access to emergency shelter? Please visit our Emergency Shelter page.
- Are you wondering how we provide homelessness services in Oxford County? Please visit our Homelessness Support page.
- Are you looking for information about what community supports are available in our community related to housing, health, eviction prevention, food and clothing? Please see our Housing Stability Services page.