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homeless

Wednesday August 21, 2024

August 21, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

As homelessness continues to rise in Ontario, especially highlighted during the AMO conference, it is imperative for politicians at all levels and across party lines to unite and implement effective strategies to eliminate encampments and ensure that every citizen has a safe place to call home.

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

July 21, 2023

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

August 29, 2023

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.

June 7, 2023

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

The pervasive issue of tent encampments in Ontario, exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing and ineffective local governance, casts a shadow over the notion of civic pride as we approach the Civic Holiday long weekend.

August 3, 2024

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)


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.

Frustration grows with encampment

If you live near an unsheltered encampment on Hamilton, you’ve likely played some version of “guess what, or even who, is under the tarp.” It could be a mound of belongings, or a group of two more tents, or something else entirely.

We and our neighbours residing along the east side of Gage Park have been guessing since the end of July when the first tents arrived near Maple and Rothsay Avenues. One of the tents is big enough to accommodate at least 10 people. It has a large awning, tied to a tree. The edge of this large tent is 10.5 metres from our yard. We’ve taken to referring to it as “the fortress.”

What else is hidden by tarps?

A large flat-screen TV was carried to the tents last week and we could plainly see a small safe among the collection of bicycles — both whole and in part — shopping carts, baby buggies, empty bottles, garbage mounds and open bags of pet food. For the first time in 32 years, we have rats in our yard.

We’ve all had to invest in cameras, security lighting and stronger locks on our sheds and garages.

Our property taxes increased by 20 per cent this year. Yet we can’t open our windows or use our yard without enduring the smell of drug use.

Our councillor, Nrinder Nann, admonishes us for complaining in her newsletter emailed on Aug. 16.

“It would be easy to just jump on the bandwagon of expressed fear and anger,” she wrote. “However, I remain committed to balanced, evidence-based decision-making and helping inform our community why this is not a scenario for retail politics.”

It reads as a slap in the face for us and our neighbours. There are men urinating behind our homes, open drug use and a dog that is staked to a tent and barks at everything that moves. Sadly, this does not appear to be “evidence.”

Alison Rogers and Doug Sykes, Hamilton

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2024-15, AMO, animated, Canadan, collaboration, Doug Ford, encampment, federalism, homeless, Jagmeet Singh, Justin Trudeau, municipalities, Pierre Poilievre, provinces

Tuesday December 28, 2021

December 28, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 28, 2021

Hamilton’s Efforts to Combat Homelessness this Winter

While the debate rages on about the dismantling of homeless encampments in Hamilton. City staff are gearing up for providing shelter for the homeless this winter with approximately $3 Million in projects. These include:

August 26, 2021

Transitioning the former Cathedral Boys School into a temporary shelter for women (approximately 80-100 beds) at an approximate cost of $1 Million.

Adding approximately 28 temporary emergency shelter beds as men’s overflow at an approximate cost of $350,000.

Something new would be the establishment of a $500,000 fund to support churches, social clubs who have expressed interest in supporting vulnerable residents through the winter months until March 31, 2022 but who may not have the operational funds to be viable.

Creation of a special fund of $500,000 to address homelessness experienced by Indigenous community members who are overrepresented in the homeless population of Hamilton.

A grant of  of $500,000 to the YWCA Hamilton for capital renovations required to continue to operate Carol Anne’s Place as a temporary drop in program for 22 single homeless women.

A grant of of $150,000 to the Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton for capital renovations required to continue to operate Cathedral as a temporary shelter for women.

December 17, 2020

Staff are also recommending that a consultant be hired  to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a New Westminster style bylaw which was used in that BC city to combat renovictions. The city has already taken preliminary steps recently to discourage renovictions by denying some develpers tax increment grants, which were designed to encourage the construction of residential units in the city core.

Director of Housing Services, Edward John also presented Emergency and Community Services Committee with a detailed snapshot of the homelessness situation in Hamilton. The report says over 15 percent of Hamilton residents are experiencing housing need which is defined as requiring more than 30 percent of household income for shelter. The report also says there are 1375 persons in Hamilton identified as homeless. (Bay Observer) 

 

Posted in: Canada, International Tagged: 2021-42, Canada, christmas, encampments, homeless, homelessness, incumbents, Ontario, politicians, public health, shelter, Winter

Saturday October 27, 2012

October 27, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday October 27, 2012

Hamilton, tiger cats, ticats, football, homeless, season, stadium, construction

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: "no text", construction, football, Hamilton, homeless, season, stadium, Ticats, tiger-cats

Thursday May 17, 2012

May 17, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday May 17, 2012

City decries provincial benefit cuts

Councillors are declaring war on Queen’s Park after provincial cuts to social services benefits left Hamilton with a $1.8-million hole in its budget.

The emergency and community services committee voted unanimously Monday to shoulder the cost of discretionary benefits for Ontario Works recipients.

The move was in response to the province’s decision to put a cap on the amount of money it provides to cities to fund things such as funerals, glasses, dental care, prosthetics, cribs and baby supplies for people receiving social assistance.

If the city hadn’t agreed to pay the extra $1.8 million, it would have been forced to scale back the services it provides to people on social assistance.

Councillors on the emergency and community services committee railed against the provincial government for downloading the cost onto city taxpayers.

Meanwhile, Organizations that represents Canada’s doctors say Dalton McGuinty should resume negotiations with Ontario’s MDs rather than imposing fee cuts and urging his fellow premiers to do the same.

In a letter to the Premier dated Wednesday, the Canadian Medical Association and medical associations in 12 provinces and territories take aim at Mr. McGuinty’s decision to roll back medical fees – a move that has sparked some interest on the part of other provincial governments. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Posted in: Hamilton, Ontario Tagged: austerity, benefits, BMW, doctor, fees, homeless, honk, Mercedes, Ontario, Ontario Works, Queen's Park

Thursday December 21, 2006

December 21, 2006 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 21, 2006

McGuinty accuses NDP of theatrics over pay hike

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty accused the NDP on Tuesday of using unprecedented stalling tactics and theatrics to delay a 25-per-cent salary hike for provincial legislators.

New Democrats have been colourful in expressing their anger over the pay boost for members of the provincial parliament, announced in a surprise move by McGuinty’s government last week. The NDP has been trying to force the related bill to a committee for public hearings.

The provincial legislature had been scheduled to rise on Dec. 14, but the government announced it would sit another week in an effort to pass the pay hike.

Before a Liberal caucus meeting Tuesday, McGuinty invited Ontarians to “grab some popcorn” to watch the NDP’s performance.

“…It is really without precedent in the annals of parliamentary traditions,” he said of the New Democrats tactics.

The legislation would see the MPPs earning 75 per cent of what their federal counterparts make and would increase a member’s base salary to $110,775 from $88,771. (CBC) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: architecture, Dalton McGuinty, homeless, Howard Hampton, John Tory, Legislature, MMPP, Ontario, pay, Queen's Park, raise, salary, wage
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