Local Facebook group helping connect unhoused individuals with place to stay

At one point in his life, George was a programming analyst, living and working in Toronto. When his rental home was sold by the owner, George was confronted with the realities of the housing crisis in Ontario.

He was unable to find an apartment he could afford despite his fulltime job. That forced him to move into a tent and eventually his truck alongside his two dogs.

Jocelyn Schaefer noticed him while he was staying in a Waterloo parking lot. She helps run the Housing Helpers! Facebook group.

The group of 10,000 members are made up of local realtors, landlords and others looking to help unhoused people find stable housing they can afford in Waterloo Region.

Schaefer reached out to the members of Housing Helpers! who responded with raising over $3,000 in 24 hours. They were able to secure a three month stay in a Cambridge Airbnb with enough money left over for a few necessities.

Charlotte Ferguson, also helps run Housing Helpers! told the Mike Farwell Show Wednesday that the response to George’s case was overwhelming. Ferguson said it’s wonderful what they have been able to do, but it can’t stop there the group can do more.

“The next step is that we continue to grow the network of support that we have in the group with adding more realtors and adding more administrators to help us reach every single individual, hear the stories we need to hear and put people in the right situations.”

Ferguson wants to see the group add members that can help with job preparedness skills and resume building and translations. Anything that can assist people find a way out of their current situation.

“It’s not enough to just help one person out of their vehicle. We have to do more and we have to do better for as many people as we can.”

Anyone looking to help can contact Housing Helpers! on Facebook.