The rise in overnight guests at Home for the Night shows that the decision to keep the Simcoe shelter open year-round was a wise one, according to its director.
Apr 24, 2026 • Last updated Apr 27, 2026 •
Virginia Lucas, director of Church Out Serving, which runs an overnight shelter in downtown Simcoe, mentioned there’s a clear need for the shelter to operate throughout the year. Photo by J. P. Antonacci /Local Journalism Initiative Reporter/File
The rise in overnight guests at Home for the Night shows that the decision to keep the Simcoe shelter open year-round was a wise one, its director says.
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“We weren’t sure how busy we’d be in the summer,” said Virginia Lucas of Church Out Serving, the Christian group managing the shelter. “We know now there definitely is a need.”
Lucas shared that since starting as a cold-weather shelter located in the basement of First Baptist Church at Talbot and Young streets back in 2022, they’ve seen a 30 percent increase in demand for space during 2025. A year ago, they decided to pilot opening year-round.
Lucas noted that their facility with 24 beds typically accommodates around 18 to 20 guests each night and serves individuals from Norfolk and Haldimand counties.
“We’re even busier now than we were in winter of 2024-25,” she stated. “Some nights, we’re right at capacity.”
At the same time, Lucas indicated that “there has been a dramatic decrease in visible encampments.”
Home for the Night welcomes adult men and women aged 18 and over starting at 8 p. m., assigning them beds and providing hot meals along with snacks. Guests can take showers and receive clothing if needed. There’s also a lounge area with a TV where people can gather to watch events like Olympic hockey games or when “the Blue Jays are winning,” or other popular shows as Lucas described.
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Alongside extending its hours of operation, they launched a daytime program connecting guests with community services. Three mornings each week, representatives come in to share information on housing options, job opportunities, mental health resources, addiction support, and homelessness assistance. A hairdresser visits once every month.
“We’re really connecting our guests with other supports they don’t seek out on their own,” Lucas explained. “We’re building a strong bond of trust with many of these folks.”
“We’re trying to move from an overnight winter-only place to sleep into a safe year-round environment providing stability so people can move forward with their lives. We’re acting as a safety net.”
The shelter has paid staff and security but also depends on volunteers who help with food services and various supports.
A report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario indicates that homelessness is worsening across Ontario; approximately 85 thousand people were homeless by 2025 alongside nearly two thousand encampments province-wide.
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The report highlighted that more than half of those individuals face extended periods without stable housing lasting six months or longer.
Around twenty thousand children and youth are homeless within Ontario’s borders; data reveals that northern and rural areas are driving this increase in homelessness rates.
According to Lucas about seventy-five percent of Home for the Night’s guests are men. Their ages range from early twenties up through sixties. Some deal with mental health challenges or addiction issues while others have left unsafe living situations or fallen on hard times due to job loss or relationship breakdowns. Many find themselves financially strained compared to previous decades.
“They don’t have the buffer they once did,” noted Lucas. “We’re seeing people here we might not have expected.”
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