$1.3 Million Donation Helps Keep London Cares Open

A supportive housing program in London, Ont., that was set to close later this year has received a boost thanks to a financial donation that will allow it to stay open until spring.

London Cares is getting up to $1.3 million from the London Community Foundation’s Fund For Change, which will help keep the House of Hope operational until March 2027, extending its initial closure date from November 2026, officials announced Thursday.

“This is a partnership that has come together to give more time for people who are in critical need,” said Mayor Josh Morgan. “Any time we’re able to do that, that’s a good day.”

The House of Hope opened at 362 Dundas St. in 2023 and offers supportive housing for individuals with complex needs who would otherwise be homeless. It provides on-site support for employment, mental health issues, addiction recovery, and more.

This facility was initially funded by the London Health Sciences Centre along with donations, but in May officials revealed it would have to shut down due to dwindling funds after the province chose not to intervene.

London Cares’ House of Hope on Dundas Street provides housing and wraparound support to high-acuity community members. (Jack Sutton/CBC)

Chris Moss, executive director of London Cares, mentioned that these funds will ensure residents don’t fall back into homelessness.

“The people that live with us at House of Hope are people who had lived on the street for a decade or more. People with highly complex needs,” said Chris Moss.

“With this extension we’re hoping no one will end up on the street. There definitely are some complexities there, so we’ll see. We’re really, really hopeful.”

Moss expressed concerns about the future sustainability of House of Hope since “donors just aren’t coming forward on an ongoing basis.”

The newly extended timeline doesn’t lessen the workload for Moss and her team.

In fact, transitioning residents into permanent housing or other supportive arrangements could strain resources across the wider system she noted.

“It puts a rush on partners – for example, Indwell, who have other supportive housing – or [the city’s] micro modular shelters,” Moss said. “This is a system that’s busy and complex, and there’s other people waiting for housing too. It really does impact all of that.”

Moss also pointed out that extra funding means staff members who were about to lose their jobs now have more time as residents move out gradually; staffing levels will adjust according to how many residents remain.

While $1.3 million has been allocated for this extension period, Diane Silva, president and CEO of the London Community Foundation stated it’s uncertain how much money will actually be used.

“We’re working closely with London Cares and the City of London because as people are transitioned out,[London Cares will] likely not need the full amount but this gives them breathing room.”

Silva added that supporting continued operations at House of Hope aligns with the goals of the Community Foundation and they’re pleased to assist during this transition phase.

Mayor Josh Morgan speaks to reporters during Thursday’s announcement. (Alessio Donnini/)

More Provincial Funding Needed Long Term

Mayor Josh Morgan emphasized that even though the province hasn’t stepped up financially yet for House of Hope’s operation he believes they are committed to supportive housing initiatives.

“We have a province that recognizes and has prioritized supportive housing within their funding envelopes. This is a government who actually created a new system across the province, invested over half a billion dollars and chose to make supportive housing part of the HART hub system,” Morgan said during Thursday’s announcement.

“Supportive housing capacity through House of Hope needs replacement under a provincial model that Ontario can support and we are having active discussions with them.”

Moss took a more cautious approach regarding provincial commitment towards such models saying “The city needs drastically more [funding], but so does every city in the province. The province really has a big thing to do there. How they’ll manage that I’m not sure so I’ll be watching.”

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