Housing. Connection. Community.
A United Way Elgin Middlesex community initiative
Five supportive bachelor apartments and a Community Connection Centre
at 17–19 Front Street. Planned grand opening: summer 2027.
Why we need WayHome
Rentals in Strathroy-Caradoc are scarce and costs keep rising. For someone in crisis, there are few places to turn locally. Middlesex County has no permanent emergency shelter, and the services that do exist are often a long drive away.
Rural homelessness is easy to miss. It looks like couch-surfing, sleeping in a car, or staying somewhere unsafe because there’s nowhere else to go.
1.1%
Rental vacancy rate, one of the lowest in Ontario
45%
Of renters in unaffordable housing
256
People on the local housing waitlist, with waits of up to four years
0
Permanent emergency shelters in Middlesex County
From homelessness to hope
United Way funds programs that provide both immediate needs and also long-term solutions for people experiencing homelessness. Thanks to the generous support of donors, Lynda connected with a caring housing worker through a United Way-funded program. That support changed everything.
“You need that to be able to start building your life back again. Especially from sometimes ground zero, where you’ve lost everything.” – Lynda, program participant
Lynda’s story is a reminder that with the right supports like housing, mental health care, and someone who believes in them—people can rebuild their lives.
Five supportive bachelor apartments
& a Community Connection Centre
United Way Elgin Middlesex owns 17–19 Front Street in Strathroy, and we’re renovating it into WayHome Strathroy. It’s a project that brings safe, affordable housing, housing support and community connection together under one roof.
Finding a home is an important first step. Keeping it, and moving toward stability, often takes more. WayHome Strathroy is built for both.
A safe, affordable home
Five bachelor apartments give residents a stable place to live.
Support to keep it
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services provides housing support, helping residents keep their homes and work toward greater stability.
A place to connect
The Connection Centre gives people a place to access services, build relationships and take part in community life.
Inside the building
- Four bachelor apartments on the upper floor and one fully accessible main-floor unit
- Space for community events or meetings
- A shared space for community agencies and partners to connect with service users
- Housing support services
- Commercial rental space to contribute to the project’s sustainability
The goal is not simply to provide a place to stay. The goal is to create a pathway from crisis to stability.
A local response
WayHome was shaped with input from local volunteers, community partners and people with lived-experience perspectives. The Strathroy-Caradoc Community Impact Advisory Committee has been engaged throughout, helping to keep local perspectives and community needs at the centre of the work.
Join us in bringing people home
Your donation brings compassion, dignity and hope.
The building is purchased. What’s left is turning it into homes. We’re raising $250,000 to renovate the building, furnish the five apartments and the Connection Centre, and get WayHome Strathroy ready for its planned grand opening in summer 2027.
75% of every gift goes to renovation and capital costs. The other 25% sustains the housing support that helps residents stay housed.
Your gift could provide:
$50
A full set of dishes for one person, or bath towels and washcloths, or a sheet set and towels
$150
A microwave, or a warm duvet and sheets, or pots, pans and dishes for a first kitchen
$300
A kitchen table and two chairs, or a dresser and bedside table, or all the bedding and bath linens a new tenant needs
$750
A bed with mattress and bedding, or a fridge, or a stove, or a loves
$8,200
Everything needed to furnish one home, from the bed to the kettle
Other ways to help
You can also give appliances, furnishings and in-kind services. Businesses can sponsor or partner on the project, and volunteers can help support the work. To talk about a larger gift, sponsorship or in-kind donation, contact Larissa Groch.
Download the WayHome Strathroy information booklet (PDF)
What your gift makes possible
Residents typically stay one to four years, with support to move into permanent housing.
Over the first five years, we’ll track what works and report back to donors and the community. The aim is a model that other rural communities can learn from.
What’s changing at 17–19 Front Street
If you live or work near the building, here’s what to expect. Contractors will renovate the inside of the building, with a planned grand opening in summer 2027.
17 Front Street will continue to operate as a commercial rental space. When renovations are finished at 19 Front Street, the upper floor and part of the main floor will be home to five residents. The rest of the main floor will hold the Connection Centre and partner space.
Renovation timing: Scheduled for December 2026-May 2027. No significant street impact is expected.
FAQ
No. WayHome Strathroy is supportive housing, not an emergency shelter. Residents have their own apartments and a stable home, with support to help them keep it.
People experiencing housing instability who would benefit from affordable housing combined with housing support. Our housing support partner and local service providers are developing the tenant selection and referral process together.
Five. Each has their own bachelor apartment. One main-floor unit is fully accessible.
Typically one to two years. Move-out dates are flexible, because finding permanent housing in a tight rural market can take time. Residents get support to secure long-term housing before they move on.
CMHA Thames Valley provides housing support to help residents maintain their housing and work toward greater stability.
No. Housing support is planned for weekdays, with emergency and on-call support arrangements outside those hours. WayHome Strathroy is not a 24-hour staffed residence.
A community space on the main floor where people can get help finding services, meet with local agencies and take part in community activities.
United Way Elgin Middlesex owns the building. CMHA will act as property manager.
Contact info of person.
Built on partnership and experience
United Way Elgin Middlesex is the largest non-government funder of social services in our region. We’ve spent decades working with local partners on poverty and housing.
Who’s involved
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services – Housing support for residents
Town of Strathroy-Caradoc – Local community and housing connections
Middlesex County Social Services – County social services and housing programs
Community organizations – Services, referrals and connections
Local businesses – In-kind support, sponsorship and partnerships
Donors and funders – Capital, furnishings and long-term sustainability
Volunteers and community members – Participation and support
Thank you
WayHome Strathroy is possible because these partners stepped up early.
Foundation Builder partner
Cornerstone partner
Pillar of Hope partner
Doorway to Change partner
Let’s talk about your gift
Whether you’re considering a major gift, a sponsorship
or an in-kind donation, we’d be glad to talk.
Larissa Groch, CFRE
Manager, Leadership and Legacy Giving
lgroch@unitedwayem.ca
226-504-9046