Supporting Housing Stability
Homelessness can happen to anyone. While poverty is the primary driver, people may experience homelessness for many reasons, including mental and physical health challenges, family violence and domestic abuse, job loss, or lack of affordable housing.
In Sault Ste. Marie, local housing and homelessness services are guided by a 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, which focuses on the full housing continuum, from prevention to shelter and long-term housing stability.
Homelessness Prevention Team
Established through the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan and led by Community Housing & Development, the Homelessness Prevention Team (HPT) brings service providers together to respond to housing instability and homelessness across the full housing continuum.
Recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual, HPT provides coordinated, person-centered support and works alongside individuals to identify their strengths, build stability, and support lasting independence.
In recognition of this collaborative work, HPT received the Local Municipal Champion Award from the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association in 2019.
Homelessness Prevention Team
HPT partners work together to create pathways to long-term stability.
- Algoma Treatment & Remand Centre
- Algoma Community Legal Clinic
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Children’s Aid Society of Algoma
- Community Housing & Development
- Group Health Centre
- Indigenous Friendship Centre
- John Howard Society
- Lotus House
- Niigaaniin
- Nogdawindamin Family & Community Services
- Ontario Disability Support Program
- Ontario Works
- Phoenix Rising
- Probation & Parole
- Sault Area Hospital
- Sault Police Service
- Victim Services of Algoma
- Women in Crisis
If you would like to discuss available supports, please contact: hpt@socialservices-ssmd.ca
Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Housing Stability Pilot Program
The DSSMSSAB and community partners are delivering a one-year housing stability and eviction prevention pilot initiative funded through the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF).
The initiative focuses on early intervention and collaborative support to help stabilize tenancies and reduce new entries into homelessness before housing situations reach a crisis point.
Available Supports
- Private landlords
- Property management companies
- Housing co-operatives
- Non-profit housing providers
- Supportive housing organizations
- Tenants experiencing housing instability
Support is delivered in partnership with John Howard Society, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, and Niigaaniin, with a focus on trauma-informed and culturally safe service delivery.
Supports May Include
- Tenant engagement and mediation
- Case management and ongoing support
- Rental arrears and utility arrears assistance
- Eviction prevention funding
- Cleaning and moving supports
- Budgeting and tenancy education
- Connections to mental health, addictions, and community services
Early intervention can help maintain tenancies, reduce risk, and improve housing stability for both tenants and housing providers.
Programs & Services
One of the primary tools used by HPT is the Housing Stability Bank, a program providing financial assistance to low-income individuals and families who are at risk of eviction or homelessness.
HPT also conducts Point-in-Time (PiT Counts) and connects individuals and families to the following supports:
- Shelter and urgent homelessness supports
- Shelter diversion services
- Transitional housing
- Supportive housing
- Mental health and substance use disorder supports
- Social housing supports
- Eviction prevention support
- Private market housing listings