Highlights from the first report on the Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response

Highlights from the first report on the Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response

The first comprehensive evaluation report on the Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response was published in September. It was prepared by the Centre for Research in Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) at Western University. The report highlights the significant progress that London has made in helping people experiencing chronic homelessness access stable housing through the innovative Hubs model and highly supportive housing.

Hubs

Two Hubs have opened, serving over 100 people, with over 40 having transitioned to stable housing. Demand for the Hubs is strong, and both  now have waitlists. The two Hubs, operated by Y.O.U. and LHSC (serving youth), and Atlohsa Family Healing Services and St. Joseph’s Health Care (serving Indigenous people), received a combined $4.3 million in funding from the Fund for Change.

Some of the young people benefitting from the youth-serving Hub shared their experiences in the report:

“I’ve thought this space has been amazing because of all the supports I’ve been getting. I’ve felt very welcomed since the minute I’ve come here. I feel supported instead of an outcast. The staff do their jobs well instead of judge us. I’ve never been in a place that gives support. I’ve always been alone and now I feel I have that support.” — Youth participant

“The environment can be tough at times, but I have a roof over my head and access to basic needs. The support from staff has been helpful – they listen and give me resources.” — Youth participant

“The YOU is probably one of the best shelters I’ve been there’s a lot of great staff [and] tons of resources.” — Youth participant

More on Hubs on pages 28-36 of the Report

Highly Supportive Housing

406 new highly supportive housing apartments are underway (93 built and occupied, with 313 under construction, at the approval stage, or confirmed as part of future projects). The Fund for Change has provided vital funding for 352 of these new apartments - $15.3 million for capital costs, and $2.6 million for operating costs.

Formerly homeless people who are now living in the House of Hope, a highly supportive housing residence, experienced:

  • 83% reduction in emergency department visits, 61% fewer hospital stays, 63% fewer days in criminal custody, and 58% fewer police interactions (as of September 2024).

  • House of Hope residents also accessed wrap-around support services: 56% of residents engaged in substance use treatment, 63% used physical health supports, and 30% used mental health supports (as of April 2025).

More on Highly Supportive Housing on pages 20-27 of the Report

Financial Benefits

In December 2024, 180 accounting students from the Ivey Business School at Western University took part in a unique applied learning project to estimate the financial costs of homelessness in London using publicly available data, academic literature, and municipal reports. Their analysis estimated the cost of homelessness at more than $100,000 per person per year, broken down approximately as follows:

  • Healthcare: approximately $12,200

  • Emergency response services (e.g., police, fire, EMS): approximately $15,700

  • Social services and shelter use: roughly $12,800

  • Additional collective costs (e.g., incarceration, judicial system, charitable supports): over $73,000

Supportive housing models, particularly those with embedded health and social supports, were consistently shown to be more cost-effective. According to data from Addictions and Mental Health Ontario, supportive housing typically costs between $24,000 and $60,000 per person per year, depending on the level of support required. This is substantially lower than the cost of institutional alternatives such as:

  • Correctional facilities: ~$132,000/year

  • Inpatient mental health care: ~$204,000/year

  • Psychiatric hospitals: ~$378,000/year

More on the Costing of homelessness on page 42 of the Report

Sustaining momentum requires provincial and federal investment, stable operational funding, and ongoing collaboration across sectors. The evaluation report is a valuable resource for ongoing conversations with all levels of government, demonstrating how investing in London’s approach can bring about lasting change.

London’s progress addressing the health and homelessness crisis would not have been possible without the Fund for Change – the anonymous donor family who inspired us all with their transformative $25 million commitment, and enabled a community match-giving campaign that has grown the Fund to $37.6 million.

Matthew Brewer