"The mayors of Ontario's 29 largest cities are calling on the province to declare a state of emergency as municipalities deal with what they call a "community safety and humanitarian crisis" created by homelessness, mental health and addiction. Ontario Big City Mayors urges the province to provide more funding and engage more actively with cities and other stakeholders in a motion passed unanimously on Friday. The mayors caucus says municipalities covered more than 50 per cent of the $4.1 billion spent on homelessness and housing programs in 2024."
"Caucus chair Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington, Ont., says it is not sustainable for cities to continue funding at this rate and they have already "dug deep." She says addressing homelessness should not depend on property tax dollars, but municipalities are committing the resources because it is "simply unacceptable for us as leaders in our community who care for everyone to let those people suffer on the streets.""
"Michael Minzak said Ontario is spending $75.5 million to build supportive and affordable housing and create more shelter spaces, in addition to $1.7 billion provided to municipalities to improve supportive housing, including through the Homelessness Prevention Program. He said Ontario is also spending close to $550 million to create 28 homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs, or HART hubs."
Mayors of Ontario's 29 largest cities are pressing the province to declare a state of emergency in response to a growing community safety and humanitarian crisis driven by homelessness, mental health and addiction. The mayors caucus passed a unanimous motion requesting more provincial funding and active collaboration with municipalities and stakeholders. Municipalities covered over 50 percent of the $4.1 billion spent on homelessness and housing programs in 2024 and describe current municipal spending as unsustainable. The province reports investments including $75.5 million for housing, $1.7 billion to municipalities, and nearly $550 million for 28 HART hubs.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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