Ontario’s big city mayors calling on the feds and the province to help solve the homeless, mental health and addiction crisis
Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) say an unprecedented number of Ontarians are homeless, living in encampments and other unsafe spaces, and too many are dying from addictions and mental health issues.
On Thursday, they launched the “Solve the Crisis” campaign urging both the federal and provincial levels of government and you to help tackle the issue.
“There is a humanitarian crisis happening on our streets,” said OBCM Chair and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward at a press conference on Thursday. “The number of people who are unhoused, as well as those suffering with mental health and addictions issues, is growing at alarming rate, and municipalities cannot tackle this crisis alone. We need the province, along with all levels of government and community partners, to implement the programs that have proven to be effective. This cannot wait, we must work together to solve this crisis now.”
The group say the federal and provincial governments have offered some help, but it is not enough.
They want concrete steps to be taken to address the issue and they want them taken now.
OBCM says municipalities are not equipped to deal with this crisis.
The group is requesting that the provincial government:
- 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.
- 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 municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary.
- Commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need, community by community, where there are gaps in the system.
- Invest in 24/7 Community Hubs and Crisis Centres to relieve pressure on emergency centres and first responders.
You can also help out by signing up on their website and contacting your local MPP to tell them that you want the province to take action now.
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