Northern agencies on front lines of homelessness crisis support call to action

The mayors of five Northern Ontario cities are joining together to call for action on the homelessness crisis — and the people on the front lines of the crisis are in full support.

The Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors — which represents Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins and Thunder Bay — are supporting the Ontario’s Big City Mayors’ ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign, which calls for the province to take immediate and decisive action.

The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association is applauding the move, saying municipalities across the north can’t tackle this crisis alone.

The association is made up of the 10 district social services administration boards (DSSAB) and the City of Greater Sudbury. It provides human services to the 144 municipalities in Northern Ontario.

“NOSDA members are on the frontlines working with local community groups, social services agencies, non-profits, emergency services and municipalities to address the homelessness crisis,” said the group in a news release.

“The humanitarian crisis unfolding on Ontario’s streets is a stark reality: unprecedented numbers of individuals are experiencing homelessness, residing in unsafe  encampments, and grappling with severe mental health and addiction issues.”

It says, despite best efforts, the situation is getting worse more needs to be done.

“The complexity and scale of the issue require a coordinated, well-resourced response that goes beyond the capabilities of individual municipalities,” said NOSDA chair and the mayor of Timmins Michelle Boileau. 

The ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign advocates for several key actions: 

• Appoint a Responsible Ministry and Minister: Appoint a responsible ministry and Minister with the appropriate funding and powers as a single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs as well as mental health, addictions and wrap around supports. 

• Establish a Task Force: Have this Minister strike a task force with broad sector representatives including municipalities, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan. 

• Provide Municipal Support: Provide municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary. 

• Commit to Targeted Funding: Commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need, community by community where there are gaps in the system. 

• Invest in Community Hubs: Invest in 24/7 Community Hubs / Crisis Centres to relieve pressure on emergency centres and first responders.

More information can be found at www.solvethecrisis.ca.