Cities and towns in Ontario are asking the federal and provincial governments to step up and help with an estimated 1,400 homeless encampments in various communities.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) said that these encampments have turned up in cities, small towns, and rural and northern Ontario.
“While municipalities did not create the homelessness crisis, they are being forced to manage it without the resources or tools to sufficiently respond.”
As well, a group of Ontario mayors has started a campaign to force changes from the provincial government.
They said that people have been avoiding public spaces and downtown businesses over safety and security concerns.
The website encourages residents to write letters to the Ontario premier and other members of the provincial government to call for change.
The group is asking for the provincial government to appoint a ministry responsible for solving the homeless encampment problem. They said they’d expect this ministry to have funding and be able to address all housing needs, mental health and addictions, and other related supports.
They ask for an Ontario Action Plan to be developed by this ministry. Tools, resources, and funding are also requested for municipalities to help them meet the needs of those living in encampments.
Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said he will continue to work with municipalities, including on homelessness.
“We’re going to continue to have robust conversations and talk about the shared priorities that we have of course, homelessness, mental health and addiction, building more homes, building infrastructure,” he said.
