WELLINGTON COUNTY - The Royal Canadian Legion’s Ontario Command’s successful homelessness program for Ontario veterans is finally expanding its program by forming regional committees across the province, including one in Wellington County and another in Guelph.
The legion’s program Operation Leave The Streets Behind has been serving veterans facing homelessness across Ontario since 2009. The program aims to end homelessness among veterans.
“When a homeless veteran is identified, we ask them to complete the request for assistance and release form. Once completed, it is sent to the veterans affairs to verify the applicant has served in the Canadian military. This form allows the Legion and VAC to access information to better understand their present situation,” explained Dave Gordon, chair of the homeless veterans committees for RCL Ontario Command.
“Once complete, the legion will determine what the immediate needs of the veteran are and take the appropriate action to meet those needs such as food, clothing or shelter.”
RCL Ontario Command offers gift cards from Walmart,Tim Horton’s or a local food store, housing, and rent payments to fulfill immediate needs.They work alongside the 395 legion branches in Ontario to meet the veterans’ needs.
For over a decade, the program has assisted more than 662 homeless veterans in finding permanent housing.
More than 980 homeless veterans have been identified in 184 municipalities across the province since the program’s launch.
There are currently five veterans who are experiencing chronic homelessness in Wellington County and are listed in the By-Names list according to Mark Poste, county director of housing services.
Since the beginning of the program, however, there have been approximately 26 identified homeless veterans in the county.
“We’ve been expanding and moving along since our program’s launch in November 2009, and periodically we’ve seen the need to bring in additional help and assistance,” explained Gordon.
“Recently, we’ve looked back and asked ourselves what we’re missing, and how we can expand the program or how we can involve local communities. So, we started working with the OPP and local municipalities and local legions to implement this program for veterans and their families.”
Gordon explained that RCL Ontario Command’s next step is to create regional committees in local municipalities such as Wellington County and Guelph to further expand its homelessness program.
“If we are able to put a committee on the ground in Wellington County, then that means that the Ontario Command staff and work with local communities to educate them and help local veterans experiencing homelessness,” he said.
Regional committees have already been formed in Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Niagara Falls and London.
There are currently 393 branches in Ontario and RCL Ontario Command wants to get all of the branches involved. Hence, the need for regional committees.
A newly formed committee would ideally work with the county, as well as the police to identify ways to help veterans in need of support. Ideally, RCL hopes to have a regional committee including one representative from each of the legion’s seven branches in Wellington County.
Currently, the formation of the regional committees for Wellington County, Guelph and other areas is in its early stages.
“The committees are in its early stages. Right now, we’re creating the terms of reference and working with our partners. Once we’re finished, we’ll send them out across the province,” said Gordon.
To date, over $2.8 million has been disbursed from the Ontario Command homeless veterans fund and over $ 100,000 from the ladies auxiliary. There has been no financial support from any level of government.
