Community Invited to Homelessness and Coordinated Access Virtual Forum

Bruce and Grey Counties will host a virtual Homelessness and Coordinated Access Community Forum on November 12, inviting community members to learn about local efforts to address homelessness and connect people with housing supports. The forum will explore current homelessness challenges in Grey Bruce and discuss coordinated solutions. Attendees will hear from Grey County, Bruce County, YMCA Owen Sound Grey Bruce staff, and community partners.

“Homelessness is a complex issue that requires collaboration across counties, agencies, and the community,” said Tina Metcalfe, director of human services, Bruce County. “By working together, we can better connect individuals and families to the right supports at the right time and create pathways to stable housing.” 

The Grey Bruce Community Safety and Well-Being Planning initiative is the event host and sponsor. The forum will feature presentations and discussions on a range of critical topics, including: 

• Prevention supports and early intervention services 

• Emergency shelter programs and crisis response 

• Encampment outreach and community safety approaches 

• Transitional and supportive housing options 

• Coordinated Access and the By-Name List system 

“This forum is an opportunity for our community to come together, learn about the coordinated efforts underway, and be part of the conversation on how we can collectively address homelessness,” said Anne Marie Shaw, director of community services, Grey County. “We value community input and encourage everyone to participate, ask questions, and help shape our shared path forward.” 

Event Details 

Date: November 12, 2025 
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Location: Virtual meeting link will be emailed to registered participants one week before the forum

Participation is free, but you must register in advance. Community members are encouraged to submit questions online and register before October 31, 2025. 

Together, through shared understanding and coordinated action, we can build a stronger, safer, and more supportive community for everyone. 

What is the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) Grey-Bruce?  

Community Safety and Well Being Planning helps organizations improve the things that keep us healthy, happy, and safe. Together, we use research to create solutions focused on education, health care, food, housing, income, crime, and belonging. It is important that we create a welcoming community where problems are solved before they happen and where different professionals and community members come together to help people now and in the future. 

The ongoing work of CSWBP is supported by an advisory committee representing over 78 partners from across Bruce and Grey who are working together to address crime prevention by investing in social development, prevention, and risk interventions. This upstream preventative model focuses on creating protective factors that make individuals less vulnerable to crime and victimization.  

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Griffin, Communications Manager, County of Bruce, 226-668-5969 or CDonaldson [at] brucecounty.on.ca (ngriffin[at]brucecounty[dot]on[dot]ca)

Rob Hatten, Communications Manager, Grey County, 519-373-1592 or robert.hatten [at] grey.ca (robert[dot]hatten[at]grey[dot]ca)