The innovative housing plan in Railway City is making strides and is on course to tackle its homelessness crisis – and it has now reached an important milestone.
St. Thomas and Elgin County revealed on Wednesday that in the first half of 2026, more people without homes found housing than those who became homeless.
From January 1 to June 30, 79 individuals secured housing, compared to 69 who lost their homes. This statistic offers a glimmer of hope that the community may achieve its aim of ending functional homelessness by 2027.
This means there will be adequate housing and support available so that it becomes unusual for anyone to experience homelessness, and if they do, they won’t remain homeless for long.
The city and county have also reported a 34 percent drop in their By-Name List, which tracks local individuals facing homelessness. That list now comprises 86 names.
“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making but I’m not nearly as pleased as some of the people who now have a place to live,” said St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston.
“It’s well on the way to where I think we’ve kind of been bragging about for the last year – that we will hit zero sometime in 2027.”
The community south of London has become an encouraging example for many Canadian towns dealing with similar homelessness challenges caused by a lack of housing and the ongoing opioid crisis.
Preston, who isn’t running for re-election this fall, has been sought out by various municipalities and organizations to guide them based on the community’s success. He anticipates that when he attends his final Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference this weekend, many community leaders will approach him looking for solutions.
“I’m certain I will have more than one mayor say to me, ‘Tell me where you’re at, how you’re there,’” he noted.
“I keep shouting from my rooftop, ‘You can solve it.’ It does take solid planning and a very detailed list of what you’re trying to solve.”
But just like the trains that historically contributed to building St. Thomas, “many communities are moving forward and it seems glacial in speed at first, but it does pick up momentum once you get started.”
Preston expressed his willingness to share the strategy that began when city council prioritized housing eight years ago for this growing community welcoming new large employers.
An equally crucial aspect was addressing homelessness through creating “a team effort” while inviting new housing options along with wraparound support from social services, community groups, and private enterprises.
This collaborative approach led to several new projects. Some are overseen by the city while others are community-driven. Indwell, a Christian supportive housing organization leading initiatives throughout the region, has played an essential role in developing housing units. Other projects include an innovative development featuring 40 tiny homes downtown created by YWCA alongside Doug Tarry Homes and the city itself.
Preston highlighted that their plans were comprehensive and required meeting specific benchmarks and priorities. The By-Name List assists social service workers by knowing everyone on it personally along with their unique needs preventing them from securing housing. It also helps avoid any duplication in services provided.
While capacity for housing has been increasing, last winter’s goal was aimed at removing any need for tent cities by ensuring ample emergency shelter space was available for those needing help.
The current objective focuses on providing enough stable housing opportunities. Preston mentioned that the tiny-home project recently got furnished allowing 60 individuals now have somewhere permanent to stay.
A strategy is also set up to identify individuals at risk of losing their homes quickly helping them either maintain their residences or find alternatives swiftly.
Preston stated Indwell’s latest project on Balaclava Street is nearing completion offering 78 units.
The success from this housing strategy has sparked positive changes around town as well; Talbot Street has seen a noticeable increase in new businesses opening up shop. According to Preston, storefronts are fuller than they’ve been during his over forty years living in St. Thomas. New green spaces such as parks near city hall behind main library are also emerging around town.
The police force alongside city officials have increased their number of special constables specializing specifically in mental health issues within core areas up to ten officers resulting in greater police presence than before.
Preston remarked that this housing initiative stands out as one of his proudest achievements during his time as mayor especially considering he took office when emergency shelters had temporarily closed eight years ago.
There will always be a necessity for emergency shelters he acknowledged yet stressed how focused efforts have made tackling these matters “manageable levels within our community.”“That can happen anywhere too if collaboration occurs among all local groups,”he added.
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The police force alongside city officials have increased their number of special constables specializing specifically in mental health issues within core areas up to ten officers resulting in greater police presence than before.
Preston remarked that this housing initiative stands out as one of his proudest achievements during his time as mayor especially considering he took office when emergency shelters had temporarily closed eight years ago.
There will always be a necessity for emergency shelters he acknowledged yet stressed how focused efforts have made tackling these matters “manageable levels within our community.”“That can happen anywhere too if collaboration occurs among all local groups,”he added.
Mentioning gratitude towards having supportive cooperative councils sharing mutual goals he expects continuation even after leaving position soon. “I’ll still be around whether aiding or playfully haunting,”
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