The updated plan outlines how the City would address the housing crisis, in partnership with other levels of government and community partners. The City cannot achieve the plan’s targets without a significant and sustained increase in funding from federal and provincial governments. Achieving those targets would require an additional $415 million in federal funding and $395 million in provincial funding over ten years.
With the funding, the City would create new transitional housing for families and women, increase access to a portable housing subsidy and provide specialized assistance to people experiencing chronic homelessness to find and sustain housing. The City would also work with the Aboriginal Community Advisory Board on a 10-year plan to reduce Indigenous homelessness and provide culturally relevant housing and supports.
The City’s Finance and Economic Development Committee will consider a long-range financial plan to identify the municipal, provincial and federal funding needed to achieve the targets in the plan and maintain current services. The plan will also outline the financial implications of COVID-19 on Housing Services.
The City’s Planning Committee will consider a capital plan for affordable housing at its meeting on Thursday, June 25. City Council will then consider the housing and homelessness plan and the capital plan for affordable housing together on Wednesday, July 15.
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness reviewed the City’s Housing First program. The Committee received their assessment, which found the program is responsive, robust and in line with best practices, except where it would be cost prohibitive or go against federal or provincial funding requirements. The City will work with community partners to implement all feasible recommendations.
