London Ontario’s Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response

Written By: Natalie Fung

In London, Ontario from 2022-2025, more individuals experience homelessness each year. In 2022, there were 3930 unique individuals experiencing homelessness and that number has risen to 4729 in 2025. 

For many of us, London is a temporary home. But despite this, it is crucial to have empathy and actively care for a population that has been failed by the system. The systems we see in our home cities reflect London's systems too—and the change we choose to make in London will translate over to the places we were born. 

The first step, however, to making a difference is staying informed. In this article, I want to share London’s current response to these rising rates of homelessness: the “Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response.” 

The Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response was developed in 2022-2023 through conversations with many individuals and community organizations in various setors—health care, social services, emergency services, business, housing development, education and government. 

The response is a person-centered, housing-first approach. It aims to address London’s health and homelessness crisis and provide spaces where unhoused individuals can go. 

It encompasses 2 key components: the hubs model and highly supportive housing. 

Hubs differ from traditional shelters and are instead, a “network of multiple, purpose-designed locations offering comprehensive services to help the most marginalized unhoused Londoners move safely indoors, stabilize, access supports, and become sustainably housed.” Each hub services 23-35 people and is population specific. They have 24/7 drop-in support to allow for anyone to come in and access immediate basic needs and be connected with any services. They offer transitional beds, access to basic needs, and assistance to finding permanent housing. 

Highly Supportive Housing “provides 24/7, onsite support to assist individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness to achieve housing stability.” Highly Supporting Housing is targeted for individuals for which traditional housing has been unsuccessful and instead, ensures individuals have access to support at all times to maintain housing and overall life stability. Unlike hubs which are more temporary, Highly Supportive Housing serves as a longer term solution with apartments / units, onsite staff support at all times, and a community living environment. 

An evaluation report from September 2025 by the Center for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) at Western University had a few key highlights. They have implemented two hubs, serving over 100 people and 40 have transitioned to stable housing. The demand for Hubs is high and currently has waitlists. These results highlight the need for ensuring housing as a priority. 

The response continues to be in the works, and it is exciting to see how it will develop and positively impact the community. 

In addition to these system changes by the London government, we need to make a change as individuals to change our mindsets about homelessness. Homelessness is never the fault of an individual but instead, the fault of the system for not paying people a livable wage, for making groceries too expensive to buy, and basic needs (housing, rent) out of reach for many. We need to understand how we can change our mindsets, destigmatize homelessness, stay informed, and work to create a better world!