Ontario’s major city mayors are urging the provincial government to declare a state of emergency due to what they describe as a “community safety and humanitarian crisis” caused by homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction. The Ontario Big City Mayors passed a motion unanimously on Friday, calling for increased funding and more active engagement with cities and stakeholders.
According to the mayors caucus, municipalities covered over half of the $4.1 billion spent on homelessness and housing programs in 2024. Marianne Meed Ward, the caucus chair and mayor of Burlington, Ontario, emphasized that the current funding model is unsustainable for cities and that they have already exhausted their resources.
Meed Ward stressed that addressing homelessness should not solely rely on property tax revenues, but municipalities are stepping up because they cannot stand by while people suffer on the streets. In response, a spokesperson for the minister of municipal affairs and housing highlighted the significant investments made by the province to combat homelessness.
The province has allocated $75.5 million for supportive and affordable housing projects, as well as creating more shelter spaces. Additionally, $1.7 billion has been provided to municipalities to enhance supportive housing through initiatives like the Homelessness Prevention Program. Ontario is also investing nearly $550 million in establishing 28 homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs.
Despite these efforts, the mayors argue that the current funding falls short of what is needed to effectively tackle the homelessness crisis. They referenced a report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, calling for an $11 billion investment over the next decade to address homelessness comprehensively.
Toronto Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie emphasized that while there has been some provincial support, it is insufficient, and municipalities cannot address this crisis alone. The mayors are urging for more collaborative efforts and increased funding to combat homelessness effectively.
