Advocates in the work against homelessness are hoping to see a "housing first"-model in Thorold.
There is currently no shelter in town, leaving people without a home with St Catharines as the closest option to find shelter, but the locations will often will vary each night throughout the week.
That makes the tedious work of getting connected to support services and the job market even harder for many transient people, who often need to prove that they are 'ready' for their own housing by addressing possible addiction- and mental health issues, Bill Vanderklippe says.
He sits on the housing committee of the One Thorold group, a coalition of church- community- business and political leaders that meet monthly.
"We have been looking at the 'housing first'-model that has had huge success, in the states and Finland among other places", he continues.
The idea centres around moving an individual who is living on the street into independent living as quickly as possible, while offering ongoing support services.
"It is shown that many feel a responsibility and get more motivated through that".
Now they are trying to get community partners talking about the idea, and listen for a way to move forward.
Challenging in a place like Thorold, Vanderklippe admits, since many landlords have, since long, gotten in on the more lucrative option of renting to students.
"You make more renting out a house to six Brock students than to a family. You'd probably make half of what you would renting to a student".
Many landlords aren't even physically present in Niagara - something that mayor Terry Ugulini sees as a problem.
"We are working on the issue", he told the One Thorold meeting.
