Goal of Lighthouse is to ‘pursue our vision and strive to create a thriving community where everyone has hope, home and a future’
Linda Goodall and Rosemary PetersenApr 28, 2025 12:30 P
This is the latest in a series of columns written by staff from The Lighthouse to help the community better understand people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. This column appears every other MondaWe are thrilled to share The Lighthouse’s 2024 Impact Report, a powerful testament to the incredible difference you, our community, made last year.
If you’ve been following along with the columns we’ve been writing over the past two years, you’ve likely learned about the many programs and services The Lighthouse offers for individuals who are experiencing homelessness. While we know that The Lighthouse has been an integral part of the Orillia community over the last 30+ years, it’s important to pause and reflect on the tangible difference made in the last year.
As the needs within the community have grown and changed, The Lighthouse has also evolved. Our approach continues to adapt, ensuring we effectively meet the needs by providing supportive housing, emergency shelter and basic necessities through outreach, food services, and wellbeing support. The 2024 Impact Report highlights the vital services that are offered as we pursue our vision and strive to create a thriving community where everyone has hope, home and a future.
While the numbers and statistics included in the 2024 Impact Report demonstrate the growing need as well as the impact of our work, it’s the people behind the numbers – the staff, volunteers, donors and partners – who truly make our mission possible as we come together to make The Lighthouse’s 12 services possible. Together, we are able to ensure that people are supported along their housing journey.
Housing Services
The Lighthouse is best known for the housing services offered through the emergency shelter and supportive housing. Ensuring that people have a safe environment in which to stay is fundamental. Housing is the first step in addressing homelessness, and while these programs provide temporary places to stay, they have been critical for the 347 people total who accessed shelter and supportive housing last year.
Outreach Services
For people who are living unhoused in the community, The Lighthouse’s outreach services are available. Both youth and adult outreach services work with participants to provide resources and referrals that connect them with housing, healthcare and other basic necessities. In 2024, the outreach teams recorded 9,263 interactions with people in the community.
Medical Clinic
Unique among many shelters, The Lighthouse also operates an onsite medical clinic. It continues to address acute care needs, medication management and chronic conditions faced by people who are experiencing homelessness. In 2024, the medical clinic provided 670 appointments. With the help of physicians, community paramedics, and a visiting chiropodist, we’re able to reduce pressure on emergency services while offering compassionate, direct care.
Mental Health Services
Our commitment to wellbeing extends beyond the physical. Mental health services and spiritual support are a core part of our holistic approach. As a faith-based organization, we are grateful for our Ministry Coordinator, a role funded by four local churches, who walks alongside participants, offering a safe space to explore faith, addiction, grief, boundaries, and hope.
Community Partners
Throughout every program and service, collaboration is key. Our community partnerships and the dedication of our volunteers play an essential role in everything we do.
We invite you to take some time and read through the 2024 Impact Report and see the difference we made together last year.
As we move through 2025, we remain dedicated to keeping hope alive by walking alongside individuals experiencing homelessness, offering hope, dignity, and support. This crucial work is only possible thanks to the incredible support of our community.
Join us in making a lasting difference through our 2025 Keeping Hope Campaign.