Friday, October 10 was World Homelessness Day. In Hawkesbury, the day was recognized with an event downtown at Place des Pionniers to raise awareness of homelessness in the community, and to promote local services available to people who are homeless or living in poverty. The World Homelessness Day event was presented by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) Department of Social Services and Housing, Victim Services Prescott and Russell, Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH), the Town of Hawkesbury, and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU).

“We want to make sure the community knows what is happening in our town,” said UCPR Department of Social Services and Housing Coordinator Nadia Séguin.

In September 2025, there were 123 homeless households across the UCPR, which was a one per cent increase from August. Out of those 123 households, 54 per cent of them were in the Town of Hawkesbury.

“In Hawkesbury, we have most of the homeless,” Séguin said.

She explained the reason that most of the homeless individuals in Prescott and Russell are in Hawkesbury is because most of the existing social housing, the hospital, Ontario Works, and other social services agencies or organizations are located in the town or nearby.

Séguin acknowledged that there are challenges involving residents, understanding there are homeless individuals living around them.

“It’s something people are not afraid of, but not used to,” is how she described the dynamic.

Séguin encouraged residents who encounter homeless people to be friendly and greet them and then ask if they are in need of anything. She said homeless people should be treated with respect and like any other individual may meet in the street.

The warming centre for homeless individuals will be open again at the former École St-Jean-Bosco school building on Abbott Street.

Beginning on Saturday, November 15, Centre 440 will open in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Parish Hall at 440 Stanley Street. The new program will offer lunch and community connections for homeless and low-income individuals. Centre 440 will be open each Saturday from 11:30 am to 1 pm. For more information, contact [email protected].

Out of the 123 homeless households in Prescott and Russell in September, 87 of the affected individuals were adults and 20 families were homeless. There were 16 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 who were homeless. Men were 59 per cent of the homeless individuals and women were the remaining 41 per cent.

Chronic homelessness was affecting 28 per cent of homeless people in Prescott and Russell in September and 57 per cent of homeless people were facing mental health challenges.

As for temporary accommodation, 50 per cent of the homeless people in Prescott and Russell counties in September were staying temporarily with relatives or ‘couch surfing’ in other homes.