How You Can Take Action

In March 2023, the County hosted the Stronger Together Summit - a community conversation about housing, homelessness and addictions in Lambton County. The Be Part of the Solution campaign was established as a result of this summit.

“Be Part of the Solution” is a campaign calling on members of our community to shift the local conversation on homelessness to one of solutions. Through learning, understanding, and taking action, everyone can be part of the solution.

Explore how you can support local solutions by taking up one of eight community calls to action.

1. Become Informed

Take time to learn more about homelessness. Understanding the different causes of homelessness is a great first step. Listen to local organizations that provide homelessness prevention services and community members experiencing homelessness to gain a deeper understanding of the situation in Lambton County.

2. Share Information

Share accurate and up-to-date information about homelessness in your daily conversations, online, and at community events. Stay informed by following local resources like Be Part of the Solution's Monthly Updates, and follow provincial and national news to see how other municipalities are responding to this crisis.

3. Discredit Myths

When you hear myths or stigmatizing language about people experiencing homelessness, speak up. There are many misunderstandings about homelessness that socially isolate people experiencing homelessness, and take the focus of conversations about homelessness away from facts and solutions.

4. Donate Locally

Support local agencies that provide vital food, shelter and outreach services to people experiencing homelessness. Consider donating new items, gently used goods, non-perishable foods, or funds, depending on the agency's needs. 

5. Volunteer Locally

Consider volunteering with local agencies that support people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. You can volunteer regularly, or through seasonal initiatives such as fundraising events and awareness campaigns.

6. Support Housing

When a new supportive or affordable housing build is announced, show your support. Participate in neighbourhood meetings, engage your friends and family, and remind your neighbours that supportive, affordable housing is the most sustainable solution to homelessness. Learn more from the Canadian case studies linked below.

7. Partner With Us

If you are a landlord, property manager, non-profit agency, or developer, consider partnering with the County of Lambton to support the growth of Lambton’s affordable housing supply. We offer landlord engagement supports, seed funding, and locally-focused toolkits to remove roadblocks to creating affordable housing.

8. Mobilize

Call on your neighbourhood, congregation, volunteer group, or other social circle to become part of the solution to local homelessness. From donating meals to donating surplus lands for housing, there are many creative, community-led solutions that local groups can drive forward.