United Housing

05/29/2026

Yesterday, United Housing Director Kathy Vassilakos spoke with CBC's Matt Allen about a new United Housing research paper (co-written by Kathy and Research Intern Maria Erb) examining the social and financial costs of non-permanent shelter systems in addressing homelessness.
We appreciated the opportunity to share more about this research paper and the questions it raises for communities in our region and beyond.

05/28/2026

📣New Research Paper📣 We all want to “do something” about homelessness—but not all solutions are effective.

Temporary shelters may help in the moment, but lasting change comes from investing in stable, safe and supported homes that last for generations to come.

Let’s focus on solutions that help people stay housed.
Read the new United Housing research paper>> unitedhousingperthhuron.ca/educate-and-advocate/

05/05/2026

We’re raising the roof in Listowel. 🏗️
New roof installation is underway at the Listowel Music Hall Apartments — a critical step in delivering 10 new mixed‑income homes.

Huge thanks to the teams on site: Demolition - Jobi, Truss Prep - FDB, Truss Delivery - Jackson Truss, Truss & Sheathing Installation - Contract Framing, and Roofing Installation - Smith Peat 🛠️

Learn more about the project:
https://unitedhousingperthhuron.ca/projects/music-hall-apartments/ 🏠

05/04/2026

🗓️ June 6, 2026
📍 Avondale United Church
🌈 In support of United Way's United Housing initiative

🎵 A legendary album. A live interpretation. A Stratford stage.
The Onrush Music Festival presents a special performance of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon🌘 (along with a selection of early Floyd songs), featuring artists from our local music community.
🗓️ June 6, 2026
📍 Avondale United Church
🌈 In support of United Way's United Housing initiative
👀 Details and tickets>> onrushfestival.ca/darksidelive

03/19/2026

Progress update from downtown Listowel.
Construction is underway at the Music Hall Apartments—transforming unused space into 10 mixed‑income rental units.
Follow this page for updates as this project takes shape.
For project overview: https://unitedhousingperthhuron.ca/projects/music-hall-apartments/

03/17/2026

📣Thank you to all the media who covered our ribbon cutting for the North Perth Access Centre! We were so excited to share about this great project.🫶
Access Centres are part of United-Way Perth Huron's strategy to improve access to services for residents across Perth-Huron. In rural communities, access to services is often limited by barriers including transportation, distance and system complexity. By having multiple services available in one central location, United Way Access Centres help ensure people can get the support they need, closer to home. Currently there are 4 Access Centres across Perth-Huron: Vanastra, Exeter, Listowel and Stratford (the United Centre, which also serves as the United Way offices). The Listowel Access Centre is located directly below United Housing's Music Hall Apartments.
Tenant partners in North Perth:
▪️Huron Perth Children's Aid Society
▪️Optimism Place
▪️Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth
▪️The Well Community Collective
➡️More about Access Centres: http://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/.../united-way-access.../

02/02/2026

The report is a window into local struggles with high housing costs 🏠

𝗜𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, 𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
In our survey looking at how local people have been affected by rising housing costs, we saw how those costs have led Perth-Huron residents to cut back throughout their lives. Most respondents reported spending less on something. Many went without recreation and entertainment. Almost as many said they were cutting back on essentials like groceries. Many faced reduced quality of life, and some were deprived of basic necessities.

Many respondents tried to earn more, sometimes seeking multiple jobs and overtime. Housing costs led to many respondents saving less, living paycheque to paycheque, and going into debt.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
perthhuron.unitedway.ca/speakupforhousing/
𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴:
lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JkFlJkx/UnitedInsights

01/27/2026

We are so lucky! Here's another great partner joining us in our work in Exeter!
Thank you, Jayden's Mechanical, for the support, and your belief in building the communities you are part of!

01/27/2026

Thank you, McCann Redi-Mix, for partnering with us on our work in Exeter on this exciting new United Housing project. We appreciate your passion for the communities you call home and willingness to help address the housing crisis locally!

01/20/2026

💙 75% of our goal achieved for the Music Hall Apartments!

Thanks to incredible community support, United Housing has raised $529,031 toward our $705,000 capital campaign goal for the Music Hall Apartments project in downtown Listowel.

“Affordable housing is critical to the health and vibrancy of our region,” says Ryan Erb, Executive Director of United Housing & United Way Perth‑Huron. “This project is one step toward addressing the housing crisis in North Perth. We’re counting on the community to help us cross the finish line.”

A big thank‑you to our North Perth Capital Campaign Cabinet — Allan Rothwell (Chair), Tom Soltys, Laurie & Dennis Nuhn, and Dr. Rob Annis — and to all donors who have already stepped up. Your support is making this project possible.

https://unitedhousingperthhuron.ca/75-per-cent-of-capital-campaign-goal-achieved/