Yet according to Stats Canada census data from 2006, 8.2 per cent of Grimsby resident are living in poverty.

"This means more than 1,900 men, women and children are either homeless or at risk of homelessness in our community," says the executive director of an affordable housing partnership set to share that information during a public forum Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Grimsby Peach Centre.

"The Grimsby Affordable Housing Partnership (GAHP) would like to share information about homelessness and what the organization is doing in our community to provide solutions to reduce the impact of homelessness in Grimsby," Connie Schwartz said in a news release this week.

"Everyone is invited and welcome to attend to become more informed about affordable housing in Grimsby, volunteer opportunities and information about what supports are available," Schwartz said.

The forum is timely with the approach of the holiday season.

"Knowing more about poverty and homelessness existing right under our radar reminds us of how much more we can do to assist those who would benefit from a hand up," Schwartz said.

GAHP's website, www.gahpgrimsby.ca will be launched within the next few days.

The site is a "one stop shop" of information and housing and support resources, and will allow for direct access to housing services provided by GAHP, its community partners and regional resources.

The site will also include volunteer opportunities for individuals who would like to become "part of the solution."

"The goal of GAHP is to put prevention strategies into place in order to deal with what could become a much larger issue and reduce the incidence of homelessness in our community."

Earlier, a series of local forums deemed affordable housing to be the most pressing issue affecting persons of low income in Grimsby.

Community groups came together under GAHP, a non-profit organization with a mandate to provide subsidized transitional housing to low income families and individuals in Grimsby.

"A hand up - not a handout," was how GAHP President Gord Roddy described the program at a September meeting that rallied community group leaders, Town and Regional officials to learn about the action plan.

Over the past year GAHP has been quietly working behind the scenes to provide affordable housing in Grimsby.

Through the housing services program, the client pays geared-to-income rent to GAHP, which in turn pays the negotiated rent to the landlords.

GAHP has six rental units currently operating in Grimsby. The goal is to have 30 rental units operating by 2010.