Ark Aid calls on Londoners to raise $5M to keep 24/7 shelter spaces open all year

The Ark Aid Mission is turning to people in London, Ont., to help achieve its goal of raising $5 million to guarantee funding for a 24/7 shelter, more beds and meals for the unhoused for this year. 

The agency is asking the community to make a $50 donation every month to help fund 200 resting spaces and 584,000 meals throughout 2025. 

Executive director Sarah Campbell said the 365 Days of Rest Campaign is the first time people in London are asked to be monthly supporters. 

"We know there's a lot of people experiencing homelessness, and every day people are coming and not having enough space to offer them. And so we are boldly saying we want to fundraise $5 million to sustain these services," she said. 

Campbell said the money raised will be in addition to the $4.2 million the city has committed until March 2026. In November, the federal government also said London would receive $5 million to fund shelters, but that money has not yet been allocated to London agencies. 

Ark Aid's holiday fundraiser in December brought in $500,000, Campbell said. 

"Often [government] funding is really short term and we don't know if we'll be able to continue, so the goal is to take fundraised dollars, match it with government dollars and make greater impact."

Moving shelter off Dundas Street

The organization plans to have 120 overnight beds up and running by the end of February, 90 of which are currently open and paid for by the city. The community fundraiser will cover the remaining 30 beds, with money in reserve for future needs.

In December, council decided Ark Aid must move its overnight resting beds away from the business district of Dundas Street East, and Campbell said a new location for overnight spaces hasn't been finalized yet. 

"We always want to be adding more to what government can offer, and we want to add capacity and space throughout the year," she said. Campbell noted Ark Aid has applied to serve as supportive housing units in the provincial HART hubs that focus on addictions treatment and recovery. 

The request from the community comes a day after the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) released a report that found more than 80,000 people in Ontario were unhoused last year, with that number expected to triple over the next decade if there's an economic downtown.

Part of the solution would require an $11-billion investment over 10 years to create more than 75,000 affordable and supportive housing units. 

"We know the investment needed to make a meaningful impact in communities is significant, and governments can do what they can, but communities can do more," said Campbell, adding the Ark's economic needs have grown exponentially due to increasing demand for services.

Chasing basic dollars burdens agencies: researcher

The Ark's experience is parallel to that of other front-line social agencies, according to Abe Oudshoorn, an associate nursing professor at Western University, who researches health needs and policies related to homelessness. 

A lack of provincial funding that matches federal and municipal dollars forces these agencies into spending "astronomical" amounts of time and energy to secure resources like money, space and staff, Oudshoorn said. 

"Having to chase basic operating dollars year over year puts a huge burden on organizations who also are serving those with the greatest needs," he said.

"Because the provincial government is not offering clear, simple and permanent operating funds for things like social workers, nurses and addictions staff, that means organizations are spending incredible time to find those resources through donors, fundraising, through small grants."

The province recently announced a further $50 million for affordable housing and an additional $20 million for shelter funding.

Campbell said shelters like hers will continue pressuring governments and advocating for the unhoused. 

"We can't see a doubling of these numbers but in the meantime, we know community can come together and help make a difference now."