H4 Lunch & Learn panelists, from left, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens; Bill Marra, chief executive officer of Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s HART Hub; Nicole Sbrocca, chief executive officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex’s Shelter Health and ILOT programs; Jordan Nguyen, H4 lead; and Windsor police Chief Jason Crowley take part in a discussion with civic and agency leaders working directly in homelessness response during the Five-Day Challenge for Homelessness, Thursday, March 19. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Community leaders, police, health-care professionals and students gathered Thursday, March 19, to explore solutions to homelessness during a Lunch & Learn panel supporting Windsor’s Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4).
The discussion marked the highlight of the Five-Day Challenge for Homelessness, hosted by the Odette Commerce Society. The initiative aimed to educate university students about the realities of homelessness while showcasing collaborative efforts already underway in Windsor.
Mayor Drew Dilkens (BComm Hons.’96) described H4 as a cornerstone of the city’s response, pointing to recent council-approved investments and the hub’s transition to 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operations.
“H4 provides wraparound support, medical care and essential resources that help individuals regain stability and rebuild their lives,” said Dilkens.
He noted that the initiative also offers students meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. “It strengthens their commitment to making a difference in the community,” he added.
Makennah Murphy, president of the Odette Commerce Society and student organizer of the Five-Day Challenge, said the panel was designed to challenge common misconceptions about homelessness while encouraging students to think beyond financial donations.
“I hope everyone walks away more educated on homelessness and with one concrete way they can get involved,” said Murphy.
Makennah Murphy, an undergraduate business student and president of the Odette Commerce Society, was the student organizer of the Five-Day Challenge for Homelessness, highlighted by a Lunch & Learn panel in support of the City of Windsor’s Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4). (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)
Panelists emphasized the complexity of homelessness and the importance of coordinated, low-barrier responses across sectors.
Nicole Sbrocca, chief executive officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association–Windsor-Essex County, outlined the organization’s shelter health program, which uses an interprofessional model to provide on-site medical, mental-health and social supports.
“Our teams operate seven days a week, helping clients navigate community services,” she said, pointing to improved health outcomes and reduced hospital readmission rates among participants.
Drawing on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare president and CEO Bill Marra (BA – Sociology ’88, BA – Criminology ’99) explained how the H4 partnership emerged from the need for deeper collaboration during crises.
“None of this works without partnerships,” Marra said, highlighting mobile outreach teams and assertive community treatment programs that help people remain housed and out of hospital. He stressed the critical role of frontline workers and timely “warm handoffs” that connect individuals to services when support is needed most.
Windsor police Chief Jason Crowley (BA – Sociology ’91) spoke about how H4 has transformed emergency responses to homelessness, mental-health and addiction-related calls.
“We’re not going to arrest our way out of homelessness,” said Crowley, adding that the 24/7 hub provides officers with real-time alternatives that reduce pressure on emergency services and allow police to focus on core duties.
H4 lead Jordan Nguyen (BA ’19) challenged perceptions that homelessness stems from individual failure, pointing instead to systemic issues such as housing affordability, income insecurity and limited access to mental-health supports.
“It’s far easier to fall into homelessness than people realize, and much harder to climb out once you’re in it,” said Nguyen.
She also noted that H4 has housed more than 400 households since its launch, including a young couple who entered the program without income, identification or family support.
“Getting them into their first night of safe, stable housing is something I’ll always remember,” said Nguyen.
Odette School of Business dean Dr. Josianne Marsan reinforced the connection between addressing homelessness and sustaining a healthy downtown economy during the event, underscoring the importance of student engagement in community-focused solutions.
“As a business school, we care deeply about vibrant downtowns,” said Marsan. “Seeing students engaged and eager to help is incredibly inspiring. It gives me confidence we’re in good hands.”