Ontario sets deadline to end homelessness

Province to focus on battling issues involving youth and aboriginal people in need

Ontario is giving itself 10 years to end chronic homelessness, as recommended by an expert advisory panel.

“For far too long we have not challenged ourselves, as we should, to solve this problem. We have accepted it,” Deputy Premier Deb Matthews said Wednesday. “Well, we are no longer going to turn a blind eye.”

The panel, appointed in January as part of Ontario’s second five-year poverty reduction strategy, was established to define homelessness and determine how to measure it; set a target to end it; and help implement “best practices” across the province.

The government is also adopting the panel’s recommendation to focus on four key areas, including youth homelessness, aboriginal homelessness, chronic homelessness and homelessness following transitions from provincial institutions such as jails, hospitals, shelters and group and foster homes.

“Today we are taking a very important step forward. We have a plan, We know what we need to know. We are rolling up our sleeves and we are getting to work,” Matthews said.

Among those gathered for lunch and shelter from the pouring rain Wednesday was Anne-Marie Garrels, a First Nations woman who was homeless for 14 years until a local program helped her find housing almost a year ago.

“It’s about time,” said Garrels, 41, referring to the government’s attention to ending aboriginal homelessness.

In the short term, the province is earmarking $10 million over two years on initiatives to prevent and end homelessness, Mathews said. The money is part of Ontario’s $50million local poverty reduction fund.

With the newly elected Liberal government in Ottawa promising to partner with provinces on a national affordable housing strategy, Matthews and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin expect funding in this area to increase.

Due to the complexity and many faces of homelessness, the problem is best fought at the local level, with the help of non-profit and privatesector partners, McMeekin said.

Looking toward the 10-year goal, municipalities will be expected to have local strategies to end homelessness and a common approach to collecting, measuring and tracking data.

“When it comes to complex issues like homelessness, it is very important to have a focus, so we aren’t moving about in a million directions,” advisory panel member Pedro Barata of United Way Toronto said in an interview.

“We have a plan, We know what we need to know. We are rolling up our sleeves and we are getting to work.” DEB MATTHEWS DEPUTY PREMIER

“What’s really encouraging is that we now have three levels of government that are, in general, on the same page in wanting to move forward on this issue,” he said.

Affordable housing advocate and advisory panel member Michael Shapcott lauded the province for setting a goal and getting started on a plan to meet it.

“But as we all know, nothing significant can happen in housing without more bricks and mortar. And money is absolutely key,” he said.

Under the provincial plan, homelessness is defined as: “the situation of a person or a family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.”

Chronic homelessness is defined as someone, often with a disabling condition, who has been homeless for six months or more in the past year.