Thread by @mr_lois_lane

When it comes to preventing homelessness and supporting unhoused people in Ontario, “we’ve known what the solutions are for a very long time,” says @JesseJenkinson (@MAP_Health). “It’s just whether or not anyone’s going to finally do something about it.” #OnElxn #OnPoli [1/9]

https://twitter.com/TheAgenda/status/1531678395704262657

The pandemic exacerbated homelessness but things were bad before. A 2021 Statistics Canada study concluded homelessness in Ontario has been worsening over time, affecting younger cohorts, and shifting to smaller but rapidly growing municipalities. www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-… [2/9]

.@AbeOudshoorn (@WesternU) says the increase in homelessness came as pre-2018 progress slowed and organizations ran out of capacity to re-house people. Simultaneously, the housing market took off, making it hard to find affordable housing. [3/9]

In Ontario, the provincial government is the main source of housing and homelessness funding. @ErinDej (@Laurier) says it should take a stronger leadership role here, bridging municipalities and sectors. One strategic change experts recommend is adopting housing first. [4/9]

Such a strategy, Oudshoorn explains, is predicated on the idea that “the more quickly we can help people find homes and provide the right supports to them in that home, the lower other challenges they face will be.” [5/9]
on360.ca/policy-papers/…

Ending homelessness is another goal leaders might choose to pursue (see the definition: homelesshub.ca/sites/default/…) but Dej says housing people is not enough unless work is done to insure individuals feel safe, supported and included. [6/9]

Jenkinson says unhoused people may have had bad experiences with institutions and distrust social services. “It needs to be a multi-pronged approach that really addresses the intersections of people’s experiences of homelessness. It can't be a one-size-fits-all approach.” [7/9]

Dej, Jenkinson, and Oudshoorn all agree Ontario can prevent homelessness before it starts with such measures as increasing social-assistance rates, furthering rent control, reducing or eliminating exclusionary zoning, and building affordable housing. [8/9]

For more detail, and to read what the four major parties are promising about homelessness, housing first, encampments and NIMBYism, see the article here: tvo.org/article/where-… [9/9] #OnElxn #OnPoli