QUEEN’S PARK – MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner and MPP for Kitchener Centre Aislinn Clancy have written to Premier Doug Ford asking the province to commit to the federal government’s goal of ending homelessness within ten years by providing operating dollars and wraparound services for supportive and transitional homes.
In last week’s federal budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney committed nearly $30 billion over ten years to end homelessness in Canada, including $10 billion to support the delivery of nearly 25,000 supportive and transitional homes. While the federal government will finance the construction, provinces and territories are being asked to fund the operations and the services necessary to open their doors.
“We know that the solution to homelessness is housing, not jail beds. But the Ford government has been underfunding supportive housing for a long time,” said Clancy. “The federal government can build the buildings, but without operating dollars from the province, they’ll sit empty. This is a chance for the Premier to step up and meet the moment.”
“Homelessness in Ontario is a humanitarian crisis,” said Schreiner. “Every day of inaction leads to more lives lost. The province has the power to intervene. We’re asking them to do their part.”