The City of Brantford has launched an expanded support program designed to help tenants stay in their homes and reduce local homelessness. As of April 1, 2026, the city is rolling out additional on-site services to 12 non-profit and co-operative housing buildings to assist residents facing housing challenges.
The initiative is funded by up to $499,943 from the federal government’s Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, which is administered by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. Brantford was selected for this support after receiving national recognition from Built For Zero Canada for its accurate, data-driven approach to tracking local homelessness numbers.
The program will add two temporary housing stability workers and a project manager to act as a liaison with landlords. Additionally, the city has contracted Indigenous-led organizations to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive services. This focus on specialized support is intended to address the specific needs of the local Indigenous community, which currently represents more than half of the homeless population in the region.
According to Mary Musson, Commissioner of Community Services and Social Development for the City of Brantford, the need for proactive intervention remains significant. As of June 30, 2025, there were 602 people experiencing homelessness in Brantford and Brant County, including 289 individuals dealing with chronic homelessness. These figures represent a 232% increase from 2021.
The city’s goal for this year-long project is to prevent at least 48 people from becoming homeless and to contribute to a 4% reduction in the total number of people experiencing homelessness by March 31, 2027.
