Homeless encampments on the rise in Toronto and across Ontario
Summary
TLDRHomelessness is a growing concern across Ontario, with Toronto alone reporting 431 encampments on city-owned property as of August. Municipalities are seeking provincial aid, highlighting the need for more resources to address the issue. Advocates criticize past and present governments for neglecting the problem, emphasizing the lack of supportive housing and mental health resources. The city awaits funding from the Canada Ontario housing benefit to move 300 households from shelters to permanent housing each month, aiming to alleviate shelter overcrowding and assist those in encampments. Premier Ford is expected to attend the upcoming AMO conference where these concerns will be raised.
Takeaways
- 🏙️ Homelessness is increasing not just in Toronto but across Ontario.
- 📈 Municipalities are seeking help from the Province to address the issue.
- 🗣️ A conference is scheduled in Ottawa where municipalities will voice their concerns.
- 🔢 There are approximately 1,400 gatherings of homeless people across Ontario.
- 🏘️ Cities and towns are reaching a breaking point, unable to provide sufficient support alone.
- 💼 Advocates criticize past and present governments for not prioritizing homelessness solutions.
- 🚁 Critics argue that government spending could be better allocated to address homelessness.
- 🌳 In Toronto, 87% of homeless encampments are located in parks.
- 💸 The city of Toronto is awaiting additional funding from the Canada Ontario housing benefit.
- 🏥 There is a call for more comprehensive healthcare and mental health resources to support the homeless.
Q & A
What is the current situation regarding homeless encampments in Toronto?
-Homeless encampments are on the rise in Toronto, with 431 encampments on city-owned property as of August 9th, the majority of which are in parks.
Is the issue of homeless encampments limited to Toronto?
-No, the issue of homeless encampments is not limited to Toronto; it exists across Ontario, with 1,400 gatherings of people without homes reported last year.
What is the role of other municipalities in addressing this issue?
-Other municipalities are stepping up and asking for help from the Province, including participating in a conference in Ottawa to raise their concerns.
Why are municipalities seeking help from the Province?
-Municipalities are reaching a point where they cannot provide the necessary support on their own due to lack of resources.
What is the current stance of homeless advocates on the provincial and federal governments' handling of the issue?
-Homeless advocates blame previous provincial and federal governments for handing down responsibility to municipalities and current ones for not prioritizing the issue.
What is the status of the Canada Ontario housing benefit that was supposed to provide more funding?
-As of April 1st, the city of Toronto is waiting on its next allocation of the Canada Ontario housing benefit, which would help move 300 households from shelters into permanent housing each month.
How would the allocation of the Canada Ontario housing benefit impact the shelter system?
-The allocation would free up space in the shelter system to support others in need, including people living in encampments.
What additional support is needed according to the advocates?
-Advocates are calling for more support from the Province, including healthcare responses and mental health care resources to stabilize people in crisis.
What is the expected outcome of the upcoming conference involving the association of municipalities of Ontario?
-Local leaders will have a chance to make their case for more support from the Province at the conference, which Premier Ford is expected to attend.
How many parks in Toronto have five or more encampments as of August 9th?
-As of August 9th, 12 parks in Toronto have five or more encampments.
What is the current sentiment towards the government's spending priorities as expressed by the advocates?
-Advocates are questioning the government's spending priorities, suggesting that money spent on items like helicopters could be better allocated to address the homeless crisis.
Outlines
🏙️ Homelessness Crisis in Ontario
Homeless encampments are increasing not only in Toronto but across Ontario. Municipalities are seeking provincial support, highlighted by a conference in Ottawa. The issue is widespread, with 1,400 gatherings of homeless people identified in Ontario. Cities and towns are overwhelmed and lack the resources to address the problem. Advocates criticize past and current governments for neglecting the issue and not prioritizing solutions. The Ford government is criticized for spending on other areas instead of addressing homelessness. Toronto has 431 encampments on city-owned property, mainly in parks. The city awaits funding from the Canada Ontario housing benefit to move people from shelters to permanent housing, which would also free up space for those in encampments. The need for supportive housing and healthcare, including mental health resources, is emphasized.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡homeless encampments
💡municipalities
💡Province
💡resources
💡homeless advocates
💡status quo
💡Canada Ontario housing benefit
💡shelters
💡Supportive Housing
💡Mental Health Care
💡Premier Ford
Highlights
Homeless encampments are increasing in Toronto and across Ontario.
Municipalities are seeking help from the Province of Ontario.
A conference in Ottawa is scheduled to address the issue.
The collective voice of municipalities is crucial in addressing the issue.
There are over 1,000 gatherings of homeless people across Ontario.
Cities and towns are reaching a breaking point in providing support.
Municipalities claim they lack the resources to fill the gaps left by higher levels of government.
Advocates blame previous governments for the current situation.
The current government is criticized for not prioritizing the issue.
The status quo is not working, and more support from the Province is needed.
Critics argue that government spending could be better allocated.
In Toronto, there are 431 encampments on city-owned property.
87% of encampments in Toronto are in parks.
The city is waiting for funding from the province to help move people into permanent housing.
The Canada Ontario housing benefit is expected to help 300 households per month.
Supportive housing has been lacking in Ontario.
Healthcare and mental health resources are needed to stabilize people in crisis.
Premier Ford is expected to attend the AMO conference.
Local leaders will have a chance to make their case in Ottawa.
Transcripts
homeless encampments are on the rise in
Toronto but it's not just an issue here
in the big city but it exists across
Ontario as well that's why other
municipalities are stepping up asking
for help from The Province including at
a conference scheduled for next week in
Ottawa having other municipalities raise
that voice has been really crucial
because it very much you know when
you're in your own City you think this
is a problem in Toronto it's a problem
only in my neighborhood well look at it
it's 1,000 for uh 400 across the
province that's
1,400 Gatherings of people without homes
in tents in Ontario with a need for help
and that was at last count last year
cities and towns have reached the point
of saying they can't provide the support
on their own I think we can see actually
how the trajectory has gone right um and
so of course municipalities are saying
we just don't have enough resources um
to to fill in all the gaps that have
been left behind also things are not
getting any easier for people homeless
Advocates blame previous provincial and
federal governments for handing down
responsibility to municipalities and
current ones for not prioritizing so
status quo isn't working and so I would
agree yeah absolutely we need more
support from from The Province for sure
you know when I see news about the Ford
government spending money on more
helicopters and I'm like you know surely
that money can be better spent on other
things in Toronto alone there are 431
encampments on city-owned property as of
August 9th 87% of those are in parks and
12 of those Parks have five or more
encampments in the meantime more funding
was supposed to come from the province
as of April 1st a statement provided to
city news says the city of torado is
currently waiting on its next allocation
of the Canada Ontario housing benefit
which would allow 300 households to to
move from shelters into permanent
housing each month this would free up
space in the shelter system to support
others in need including people living
in encampments the Supportive Housing
that's been missing in this um in this
province for so long u we need health
care responses including Mental Health
Care Resources to get people stabilized
when they're in crisis um that doesn't
exist on the scale that we need Premier
Ford is expected to attend the
association of municipalities of Ontario
conference where local leaders will have
a chance to make their case in Ottawa
next week Mark mallister City news
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