Homelessness Prevention Initiatives

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Infograph of the Coordinated Entry System

Tremendous efforts have been made to end chronic homelessness in Guelph-Wellington since 2014.  Our community supports a Housing First approach, has implemented a Coordinated Entry System, achieved a quality By-Name-List (BNL) and is driving policy change to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing  homelessness.

  • 2014
    • The County commissioned an implementation strategy to establish more specific plans to address homelessness, with a focus on Housing First.
  • 2015: Housing First
    • A new Housing First programme was established. The programme is delivered by Stepping Stone and Wyndham House who together support about 45 youth and adult households.
  • 2016: 20,000 Homes Campaign
    • The County of Wellington and the Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination signed on to co-lead the 20,000 Homes Campaign and undertook the first ever Registry Week in Wellington-Guelph in April 2016, which established a local By-Name-List (BNL).
  • Early 2017: Coordinated Entry System
    • The Wellington-Guelph 20,000 Homes Campaign implemented a Coordinated Entry System (CES) to standardize the process, assessment and housing prioritization for households experiencing homelessness.
  • Late 2017: By-Name-List
    • Guelph-Wellington was the fourth community in Canada to achieve a quality By-Name-List (BNL).
  • Early 2018: PiT Count/Registry Week
    • A PiT Count/Registry Week was conducted with a specialized outreach strategy to connect with Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness.
  • Late 2018: 20KHomes Collaborative
    • The County of Wellington Signed on to the 20KHomes Collaborative that is based on the Community Solutions Built for Zero Campaign.

Wellington-Guelph Coordinated Entry System

Coordinated Entry System is a shared and standardized method for connecting people experiencing homelessness to the resources available.  The Coordinated Entry System assess people’s housing-related needs, prioritizes them for resources, and links those in need to a range of types of assistance.

The graphic illustrates how a individual or family experiencing homeless can access supports through the Coordinated Entry System:

  • Step One: Go to a Door Agency
  • Step Two: Complete an assessment
  • Step Three: Consent to be added to the By-Name-List (BNL)
  • Step Four: Accept referrals to appropriate housing services and supports.

Guelph-Wellington Coordinated Entry System Guide


Built for Zero-Canada (BFZ-C)

Building on the success of the 20,000 Homes Campaign, the County of Wellington joined the Built for Zero Canada (BFZ-C), a national change movement to end chronic homelessness.

Through BFZ-C, we are improving our homelessness service system through coordinated community actions and evidence-based decision-making.

“Homelessness is a complex issue but together with a common goal and a coordinated community response, we can make significant impact. We believe ending chronic homelessness is possible in our community”

To find out more, review our Built for Zero data and resources.

By-Name-List Dashboard

Guelph is a member community that reports live data to Built for Zero-Canada (BFZ-C). Visit the BFZ-C website to track our progress towards ending chronic homelessness.

BFZ-C Dashboard