London

London, Ontario is a mid-sized city built around the forks of the Thames River, with a mix of university energy from Western and Fanshawe, old manufacturing roots, and a downtown that's been through hard times but still has people trying to hold it together. Average household income here sits around $95,000, but that number hides a lot of people barely getting by, and it can make the gap feel wider when you're on the street. The most recent point-in-time count found over 2,200 people experiencing homelessness in London, a number that's grown sharply in the past few years. The London Cares Homeless Response Services team does outreach and can connect you to shelter beds and basic supplies, and My Sisters' Place offers a safe daytime space, food, and support specifically for women and gender-diverse folks. Mission Services of London runs shelters and meal programs that have been a lifeline for a lot of people in this city for decades. Winters here are brutal, so knowing where the warming spaces and shelters are before the cold hits matters more than almost anything else. You're not invisible here, and there are people in this city whose whole job is making sure you make it through the week — let them.