Hastings County is proud to be one of the first communities selected to undertake a project as part of the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF), in partnership with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) and the Government of Canada. Hastings County is accepting Expression of Interests to administer the newly approved HomeForward Program with a submission deadline of September 12, 2025, at 4:00 pm.  

An application for the HomeForward Program was approved by the CAEH to implement a 12-month housing  stability project. This program will consist of one, full-time Case Manager (CM) who will directly support 15 individuals from the Hastings County By-Names Data who are experiencing chronic homelessness by combining rental subsidies, case management and wraparound supports. The Project is rooted in Housing First principles, prioritizing immediate access to housing alongside individualized, ongoing client-centered supports.  

The core components of the HomeForward Program include: 

• A dedicated Case Manager to provide flexible wrap around client supports, with funds available to address key barriers such as on-going housing retention, income stabilization, transportation, ID replacement, furnishings, or basic household needs.
• Rental subsidies for 12 months per participant.  
• Landlord engagement and support to build sustainable relationships and improve housing outcomes.
• Maintaining quality data for ongoing project reporting and evaluation.
• Culturally informed engagement practices to promote long-term housing stability and system learning. Increase move-ins to achieve reductions in chronic homelessness by 7.2% in Hastings County by supporting 15 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
• Testing innovations, such as new approaches or interventions, to learn more about their impact on reducing homelessness and boosting capacity.

The successful organization will provide operational oversight, ensure the delivery of trauma-informed and housing-focused case management, and participate in evaluation and reporting with Hastings County. Their role will be central to housing attainment and retention, participant stability, problem solving, and connection to community services.  

For more information or to submit an Expression of Interest, click here.