United Way Perth Huron Makes Campaign Announcement In Exeter

by Bob Montgomery

United Way Perth Huron made their campaign announcement in Exeter today.

They're hoping to raise 2.626 million dollars this year. Executive Director Ryan Erb says that's an increase of about 300-thousand dollars over last year's actual, and the reason for the increase is three-fold. “First of all, we're trying to raise more money for all of the organizations the United Way supports, so over forty programming services across the region, because they're experiencing demand and longer line-ups and increased costs with inflation. So that's a big part of it. A second reason is that our Connection Centres across the region are experiencing higher demand and we need additional staff and resources at each of those locations and we're facing more demand from people in our communities who are homeless.” Erb says the third reason they're raising the goal this is year is because they're launching a new housing corporation across the region, so they need funding for that effort. They know the only solution to homelessness is additional housing, and affordable housing, and housing with supports for people who need them, and that's going to take time.

Erb says they're the largest funder of social services after the government, and they're helping people deal with the emergencies they're facing now, but they can't stop there if they hope to solve the crisis and build more houses so that people have homes they can live in and afford.