Bruce County’s Human Services team shared their final numbers from last year.
Throughout 2025, Human Services continued their work in delivering programs that included providing housing and homelessness supports, early learning programs and licensed child care, financial supports, and community initiatives.
During Thursday’s council meeting, Director Tina Metcalfe shared how the team was able to help Bruce County residents.
“The overall number of shelter nights provided in 2025 was just over 6,000. The increase in emergency shelter nights in Q4 reflects broader system-level pressures, including financial insecurity, access to affordable housing, and complex social and health needs,” shared Metcalfe. “It also reflects the importance of offering shelter support to individuals during cold weather conditions.”
Despite the number of emergency shelter nights, it was a reduction from the number of shelter nights that were needed in 2024.
Metcalfe credits the reduction to proactive efforts from community outreach and support from community partners.
The county helped support 714 households on Ontario Works, with 13.5% of recipients being connected with gainful employment.
The Human Services department also managed to help families have a special holiday season.
“Thanks to the support of 133 generous donors, sponsors, and organizations in Bruce County, the Dorrell Young Christmas Program provided support to 533 children – 255 families – with gifts and grocery cards in addition to monetary donations received.”
Last year, the department also ensured that $17.3 million in funding form the Canada Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) funding was flowed to licensed child care operators in the community.