Staff report calls for more attention on county housing, homelessness effortsJuly 30, 2026 · 0 CommentsWritten By JAMES MATTHEWSThe Choices shelter in Orangeville may be in better financial straits, but a staff report suggests Dufferin County needs to look at how to continue improvements to its housing and homelessness services. To that end, county staff examined local homelessness data, housing and homelessness programs, and service delivery models in comparable municipalities. Wagner’s report said Dufferin County’s primary strength remains emergency shelter services, while future investments should focus on prevention, bridge housing, transitional housing, supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and housing stabilization supports that improve movement toward permanent housing. Municipalities such as Simcoe County have increasingly invested in bridge housing, transitional housing, supportive housing, housing stabilization programs, and rapid re-housing initiatives that support transitions from homelessness to permanent housing. Historically, the county has had fewer bridge housing, rapid re-housing, transitional housing, and supportive housing options available after individuals access shelter services.