A new report says the north could see over 26,000 people that are homeless by 2035.
It also reveals a 204% surge in homelessness in the region in the last nine years.
The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA), in collaboration with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), partnered with HelpSeeker to compile the report.
Titled “Municipalities Under Pressure: The Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis,” the report calls for an urgent $11-billion investment to achieve functional zero chronic homelessness by 2035 across Ontario.
“Today, we stand at a pivotal moment in Northern Ontario as we confront the heartbreaking reality of a 204% increase in homelessness since 2016. This staggering rise not only highlights the urgent need for immediate action but also reveals the profound human cost of inaction within our communities,” says Mark King, chair of the District of Nipissing Social Service Administration Board. “It is essential that we secure the $11 billion investment required to achieve functional zero chronic homelessness by 2035, ensuring that everyone in our communities has a safe and stable place to call home. By investing in our communities now, we can prevent homelessness from escalating and provide critical support to those who need it most.”
Officials say challenges in Northern Ontario are amplified by geographic isolation, limited public transportation, inadequate infrastructure, and systemic inequities, including the overrepresentation of Indigenous populations in homelessness.
