Zack's Crib Homelessness Prevention Fund Launch

The Temiskaming Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the Zack’s Crib Homelessness Prevention Fund/fond de prévention de l’itinérance de Zack’s Crib.  This new endowment fund, made possible by the Zack’s Crib Crisis Centre Board of Directors, will invest donations from our community to support homelessness prevention projects in the Timiskaming District.

After six years of community-lead fundraising, the Zack’s Crib Crisis Centre officially opened its doors in December, 2023 with 12 beds open to our community’s most vulnerable residents, providing access to a safe place to spend the night, food, laundry and wrap-around social services support through community partners.

Unfortunately, after a year and a half operation, the Zack’s Crib Board announced that the Zack’s Crib Crisis Centre would be closing its doors as of May 31, 2025. “Words cannot express our gratitude for your support – support that helped provide a safe space for those in our community who needed it most.  We remain committed to advocating for our most vulnerable,” stated Yves Paille, Zack’s Crib Co-founder. In the same statement, they announced the shelter’s remaining assets would be transferred to the Temiskaming Foundation to create a Fund to continue to support the homeless population.

“With the creation of the Zack’s Crib Homelessness Prevention Fund/fond de prévention de l’itinérance de Zack’s Crib, this dedicated group of volunteers is ensuring that the legacy of all those who contributed to the creation of this shelter will be preserved in an endowed Fund, providing annual financial support for initiatives that will help those who need it most,” noted Brigid Wilkinson, Executive Director.  The Temiskaming Foundation is creating a community-based committee to review grant applications from eligible organizations, with the first intake for applications in 2026. Donations to the Fund can be made through the Foundation’s website: www.temiskamingfoundation.ca.

In 2021, the Temiskaming Foundation released its Vital Signs report, which noted the significant issue of housing need in our area.  The rate of core housing need in 2016 was 16.9% up from 10.8% in 2006, and significantly higher than the national rate of 12.7%. While the 2024 Vital Signs update report noted that the rate of core housing had decreased to 10.1% in 2021, there is still a significant need for affordable housing in our area. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s 2024 “Municipalities Under Pressure” report notes that chronic homelessness in Northern Ontario has nearly doubled since 2022. 

About the Temiskaming Foundation: Founded in 1994, the Temiskaming Foundation is a local community foundation that accepts donations from hundreds of generous donors, managing an endowment fund, and applying the proceeds to supporting local groups from Latchford to Kirkland Lake.

For more information, please contact:

Brigid Wilkinson, Executive Director

The Temiskaming Foundation

Tel: 705-647-1055  Email: ttf@temiskamingfoundation.ca