Homeless encampments on the rise in Toronto and across Ontario

Summary

Homelessness 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

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🏙️ 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.

Keywords

💡homeless encampments

Homeless encampments refer to temporary settlements or communities formed by homeless individuals, often consisting of tents, makeshift shelters, or vehicles. In the context of the video, these encampments are on the rise in Toronto and across Ontario, highlighting a significant social issue that requires attention and support from the government and local municipalities. The script mentions that there are 1,400 gatherings of people without homes in tents across the province.

💡municipalities

Municipalities are local government bodies responsible for providing services to their communities. In the video, municipalities are stepping up to address the issue of homelessness by asking for help from the Province, indicating that they recognize the severity of the situation and are seeking additional resources to manage it. The script emphasizes the importance of municipalities raising their voices collectively at a conference in Ottawa.

💡Province

The term 'Province' refers to a provincial government in Canada, which has jurisdiction over certain areas of governance, including social services. In the video, the Province is being asked by municipalities to provide more support to address the homelessness crisis. The script suggests that the current provincial government's priorities, such as spending on helicopters, are being questioned in favor of reallocating resources to address homelessness.

💡resources

Resources in this context refer to the financial and material support needed to address social issues like homelessness. The video discusses how municipalities feel they lack the necessary resources to provide adequate support to homeless individuals, indicating a need for increased funding and assistance from higher levels of government.

💡homeless advocates

Homeless advocates are individuals or groups that work to support and improve the conditions of homeless people. In the video, advocates are blaming previous provincial and federal governments for not adequately addressing the issue and current governments for not prioritizing it. They argue that the status quo is not working and that more support is needed.

💡status quo

The status quo refers to the current state of affairs or the existing situation. In the video, the status quo is criticized as not being effective in addressing homelessness. Advocates argue that the current approach to homelessness is failing and that a new strategy is needed to provide better support for those in need.

💡Canada Ontario housing benefit

The Canada Ontario Housing Benefit is a financial assistance program designed to help low-income households with housing costs. The video mentions that the city of Toronto is waiting for its next allocation of this benefit, which would enable 300 households to move from shelters into permanent housing each month, thereby freeing up space in the shelter system for others in need.

💡shelters

Shelters are facilities that provide temporary accommodation for homeless individuals. The video discusses how the housing benefit would free up space in shelters, allowing them to support more people, including those living in encampments. This highlights the importance of shelters as a critical part of the support system for homeless individuals.

💡Supportive Housing

Supportive housing refers to housing that is accompanied by services and support to help individuals maintain their living situation, often targeting those with specific needs such as mental health issues or disabilities. The video mentions that there is a lack of supportive housing in Ontario, which is a significant gap in the system that needs to be addressed to help stabilize homeless individuals in crisis.

💡Mental Health Care

Mental health care involves the treatment and management of mental health conditions. The video emphasizes the need for mental health care resources as part of the response to homelessness, suggesting that many homeless individuals may be in crisis and require specialized support to help stabilize their situations.

💡Premier Ford

Premier Ford refers to the current Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford. The video mentions that he is expected to attend a conference where local leaders will have the opportunity to make their case for more support to address homelessness. This indicates the political aspect of the issue and the role of provincial leadership in potentially influencing policy and resource allocation.

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