homeless

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 21, 2024

Published in The Hamilton Spectator and The Toronto Star.

Link to the animated version of this editorial cartoon.

It is Long Past Time to Make Encampments History

As the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) convenes this week to address pressing issues, including the rising tide of homelessness in our cities, the sight of encampments has become an increasingly common and alarming reality. From Toronto to Hamilton, tents are lining parks, sidewalks, and public spaces, starkly highlighting a growing crisis that our governments are failing to tackle effectively. Despite various initiatives and funding announcements from federal, provincial, and municipal levels, the homelessness crisis is worsening, and it’s evident that the current approach is not working. It is time for politicians at all levels and across party lines to stop the bickering and come together to make the encampment trend a thing of the past.

The situation has reached alarming levels. In Hamilton alone, approximately 1,600 people are homeless, with more than 200 living in outdoor encampments. Emergency shelters are overcrowded, affordable housing is in short supply, and social assistance rates have stagnated. Compounding these issues are mental health and addiction crises, creating a complex web of challenges that no single government level can solve alone.

News: Hamilton can’t ‘continue to shoulder’ homelessness crisis: Mayor Andrea Horwath

Federal initiatives like the National Housing Strategy and the Reaching Home program have provided some relief but haven’t been enough to stem the tide of homelessness. Despite substantial commitments, the impact has been insufficient in addressing the growing need. Provincial efforts, including funding for supportive housing, have also been criticized for falling short, leaving municipalities to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden. Mayor Andrea Horwath of Hamilton has rightly pointed out that taxpayers cannot continue to bear these costs without more significant support from both the province and the federal government.

The political landscape has been marred by finger-pointing rather than collaboration. Municipal leaders blame provincial inaction, while provincial leaders criticize federal programs. This blame game does nothing to help the people living in tents or the communities affected by encampments. The AMO meeting represents an opportunity for a coordinated response that is sorely lacking in our current approach. The call by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward for a dedicated provincial minister to take charge of homelessness underscores the need for unified leadership.

While homelessness continues to grow in Ontario, other parts of the world have successfully addressed similar crises. Countries like Finland, which have adopted the “Housing First” model, have seen significant reductions in homelessness. This approach prioritizes providing permanent housing to homeless individuals without preconditions, coupled with support services to address issues such as mental health and addiction. The success of such models highlights the importance of political will to treat housing as a fundamental right.

It is time for politicians of every level and political stripe to put aside their differences and work together to solve this crisis. The homelessness crisis is not just a political issue; it is a human rights issue. The people living in tents are our fellow citizens, deserving of dignity, safety, and a place to call home.

News: Opposition parties join calls for Ontario to recalibrate approach to homelessness

To make encampments a thing of the past, we need a comprehensive, coordinated strategy that includes unified leadership at the provincial level, significant and sustainable funding across all government tiers, and rapid implementation of housing solutions. Governments must also engage community voices, particularly those directly affected by homelessness, to inform policy and service delivery.

The growing number of tents in our cities is a visible reminder of the failure of our current approach to homelessness. But it is not too late to change course. With unified leadership, adequate funding, rapid action, and cross-party collaboration, we can make encampments history. This is not just a policy challenge; it is a moral imperative. We must act now to ensure that every Ontarian has a safe, secure place to call home. The time for talk and finger-pointing is over; the time for decisive, compassionate action is now. (AI)

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Letter to the editor – August 21, 2024, The Hamilton Spectator

This letter from an aggrieved couple of readers printed alongside the above cartoon illustrates the haughty level of political inaction on a municipal level in the city of Hamilton.