Reaching Home program

Funds will be available for use between April 2026 and March 2027.

No maximum limit on the amount of funding an applicant may request.

The quantity and quality of proposals received will determine the number of projects funded and the amount of funding each project receives. The need in the community is great and demand from community organizations for funding will likely exceed the available amount.

Types of eligible expenses for funding

Support services

• Eligible activities and expenses
• Administration expenditures

Capital projects

Requirements related to capital projects

Reporting requirements

Reaching Home funded agencies are expected to provide the following quarterly reports.

Financial report

Due within 15 days following the close of each quarter. This is to ensure projects are on budget and fall under eligible activities and expenses.

Activity report

Due within 15 days following the close of each quarter. This is a narrative of how the project is performing.

Data collection tool

Reaching Home-funded agencies will be expected to collect data on their project, including demographics in the following categories (where applicable):

• Housing placement (requires 12-month follow up)
• Emergency housing
• Prevention and shelter diversion (requires 3-month follow up)
• Secondary services
• Economic integration
• Social and community integration
• Capital
• Successes and challenges

There may be other reports requested by the fund administrator.

Proposal evaluation

All proposals, that are complete and submitted on time, will be evaluated by the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB). Proposals will be scored using a standard set of scoring tools assessing the proposals' alignment to the objective, outcomes and deliverables identified in the Guide and Application form.

Applicants who successfully demonstrate components of the CAB priorities in their project will be prioritized for funding.

Help with funding application

There will be a virtual information session held on November 12, 2025 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The information session will be recorded and can be shared with any applicants unable to attend.

Email us to register for the session or to request a copy of the recording.

If you have other questions about the application, refer to the Reaching Home Guide and Application form first.

Email us with any additional questions.

To be eligible for a Reaching Home 2026/2027 grant, your organization must meet the following requirements:

• Be an organization located in Peel Region with a mandate to provide human and social services.
• Be incorporated as a non-profit organization for a minimum of 2 years.
• Be governed by a volunteer board of directors that is representative of the community it serves.
• Be an organization that provides equal access to services for individuals of diverse cultures and disabilities.
• Have established and documented financial management systems in place and be able to provide relevant annual financial documents.
• Comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code in hiring practices and in provision of all its services.
• Have the appropriate and necessary liability insurance coverage for all aspects of the organization.

Under Reaching Home, Coordinated Access is a way for communities bring consistency, equity, and efficiency to the process by which people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness access services, housing and related resources within a geographic area.

With a Coordinated Access system in place, people across a community are directed to access points, where trained workers help them to access a range of services through a process of initial triage. When vacancies in housing units, subsidies or supports become available through Coordinated Access, these housing and related resources are offered to people that have been prioritized for them, based on a matching process that considers individual strengths, needs, and preferences, as well as local priorities. Throughout the process, people are helped to navigate next steps, sometimes through targeted case conferencing.

Requirement

Reaching Home requires all sub-projects receiving funding from Peel Region to participate in the Coordinated Access system and the Unique Identifier List (sometimes referred to as a By-Name List.)

Reaching Home funded projects providing housing placement (rapid rehousing, transitional housing, supportive housing) and associated support (case management) must receive referrals and fill vacancies through the coordinated access process.

Projects which have multiple funding sources may have program requirements imposed on them by other funders, and are encouraged but will not be required to assign all housing vacancies to the clients assessed through the coordinated access process.

The Community Advisory Board is a local organizing committee responsible for guiding Reaching Home in Peel Region. Members are chosen through an open call for volunteers and represent the diversity of our community. All are committed to helping end homelessness in Peel. Advisory board members, with support from the Peel Region and Employment and Social Development Canada staff, will review your application and make funding recommendations.

The advisory board has developed the Reaching Home Community Plan which identifies existing conditions in Peel and funding priorities through to 2024.

The plan was approved by the Canadian government in September 2020 and will be updated annually.

Join the Community Advisory Board

The program is coordinated at the community level by the Community Advisory. Peel Region is accepting applications from residents in Peel to join the Community Advisory Board.

The advisory board is the local organizing committee responsible for setting direction for addressing homelessness in the community. It's responsible for developing a plan, reviewing applications, and recommending funding for Reaching Home projects.

Apply to join

Reaching Home funding is administered by Housing Client Services in the Human Services Department at the Peel Region.

If you have questions or require assistance with your Reaching Home application, you can email us.

We're committed to responding to your email within 2 business days.

You can also call Grace Gyles, Supervisor, Housing Client Services at 905-872-5298.

As the Service Manager for the affordable housing system Peel Region is required by the Canadian and Ontario governments to conduct a Point-in-Time Count. This includes:

• Enumeration: an annual estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night, and identifying where they stayed (such as shelters, transitional housing, and unsheltered locations).
• Housing needs survey: that is completed in-person with individuals experiencing homelessness every 3 years to gather key information on demographics and experiences.

The count is used to understand the nature and extent of homelessness at a single point in time. This data helps us improve services and informs Peel’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The Point-in-Time Count is only one data sourced used by Peel to track homelessness.

• 2024 Point-in-Time Community Report
• 2021 Point-in-Time Community Report
• 2018 Point-in-Time Community Report

As fund administrator, Peel Region is required to complete and publish a Community Homelessness Report to track our progress.

• Community Homelessness Report Summary 2022 to 2023
• Community Homelessness Report Summary 2021 to 2022
• Community Homelessness Report Summary 2019 to 2021