Those experiencing homelessness are individuals and families who lack stable, safe, and adequate housing. Homelessness can include living unsheltered, staying in emergency shelters, couch surfing, or residing in temporary or precarious housing. People experiencing homelessness are diverse in age, gender, culture, and background, and many face intersecting challenges such as poverty, mental health concerns, trauma, and systemic discrimination. Structural factors, including housing affordability, income inequality, and gaps in social supports, contribute significantly to homelessness. Addressing homelessness requires coordinated, compassionate, and equity-focused approaches that prioritize dignity, stability, and long-term housing solutions.
Resources for Homeless Londoners
Anova: A London-based organization that provides shelter, counselling, crisis support, and advocacy for individuals affected by gender-based violence. Services include emergency shelter for women and children, sexual violence counselling, outreach, and second stage housing supports.
Ark Aid Street Mission: Provides meals, outreach, and practical supports such as clothing and hygiene supplies for people experiencing poverty or homelessness.
Atlohsa Family Healing Services: An Indigenous-led organization that provides low-barrier wraparound services to community members with complex needs across Southwestern Ontario, including mental wellness, substance use, homelessness, domestic violence, and trauma. Atlohsa specializes in providing strengths-based healing and wellness supports, using trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches.
Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services: Provides housing supports, mental health care, addiction services, and case management for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Coordinated Access to Housing Supports (City of London): London’s homelessness system helps connect people to the right housing and support programs based on their needs. Through Coordinated Access, individuals can be matched to housing opportunities, case management, and support services that help them move toward stable housing.
Housing Stability Bank: A financial assistance program led by the Salvation Army Centre of Hope that helps low-income Londoners secure or maintain housing. The program may help with rental arrears, last month’s rent, or emergency utility costs, and also connects people with additional supports.
London Cares: An organization that provides street outreach, supportive housing, and housing stability services to help individuals experiencing chronic and persistent homelessness. Outreach workers operate 24 hours a day.
London InterCommunity Health Centre: Provides primary care, mental health services, outreach programs, and social supports for people experiencing barriers to accessing healthcare, including those who are homeless or precariously housed.
Mission Services of London – Men’s Mission: Provides emergency shelter and support for men aged 16 and older who are experiencing homelessness. Services include meals, shelter, housing support, and connections to health and social services.
Project Home: Helps adults and youth experiencing homelessness find and keep housing. The program supports people with case management, community connections, and harm reduction to help people succeed in their housing journey.
Regional HIV/AIDS Connection: A community organization serving London and surrounding counties that provides programs related to HIV, hepatitis C, sexual health, and harm reduction. Services include testing, prevention education, supportive programs, and transitional housing options such as the John Gordon Home for people living with HIV or HCV.
Rotholme Family Shelter: Provides temporary shelter and stabilization support for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Staff help families access housing, financial supports, and community services.
Salvation Army Centre of Hope: Provides emergency shelter, meals, and housing support services for individuals experiencing homelessness in London. Staff help connect people with housing options, health supports, and community services.
Southwest Healthline: A directory of health and social services in London and Middlesex County. It includes listings for shelters, outreach programs, food supports, mental health services, and housing help.
Street Level Women at Risk: A London-based collaborative program that supports women experiencing chronic homelessness who are involved in survival sex work. The program uses a housing first approach and works with community partners to help participants secure and maintain stable housing and access health and social supports.
Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness: Offers emergency shelter, supportive housing, and housing stability programs for adults experiencing homelessness. Programs focus on helping people transition from homelessness to stable housing with ongoing supports.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU): Provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, employment programs, and wraparound supports for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability in London.