A ‘staggering’ 80,000 people and more were homeless in Ontario last year, new report finds

The homelessness crisis in Ontario has reached staggering levels, with more than 80,000 people reported to be homeless last year, according to a new report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). The report, which represents 444 municipalities across the province, paints a dire picture of the issue, with nearly half of those individuals having experienced recurring homelessness over the past three years.

The AMO is calling for a fundamentally different approach to tackle the crisis, one that prioritizes long-term housing solutions over temporary measures or policing solutions. They estimate that an $11 billion investment over 10 years is needed to create more than 75,000 affordable and supportive housing units, along with an additional $2 billion over eight years to ensure all people living in encampments are properly housed.

The numbers revealed in the report are shocking, according to Robin Jones, president of the association and mayor of Westport, Ontario. Data was gathered from the province’s 47 service managers who deal with social housing and homelessness, showing a 25% increase in the number of people living in shelters or on the streets compared to two years ago.

AMO policy director Lindsay Jones described the total number of homeless people as “staggering,” equating it to the entire population of cities like Peterborough or Sault Ste. Marie. The provincial and federal governments are being urged to step up their efforts to address the crisis, with Waterloo Region chair Karen Redman emphasizing the need for more funding to solve chronic homelessness.

The report also highlights the significant financial burden placed on municipalities, with a collective spending of $2.1 billion in 2024 on homelessness and housing programs. This far exceeds the contributions from higher levels of government, underscoring the need for increased support to address the crisis effectively.

While the province recently announced an additional $70 million for affordable housing and shelter funding, it falls short of the investment needed to solve the homelessness crisis. Ontario has also announced a shift in its approach to the opioid crisis, focusing on abstinence-based treatment models and the creation of highly supportive housing units.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra’s office emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, citing a record $3 billion investment in affordable housing, anti-homelessness, and emergency shelter supports over the next three years. Despite these efforts, there are still more than 268,000 households on waiting lists for affordable homes, with an average wait time of five years.

The report serves as a wake-up call for policymakers and stakeholders to take urgent action to address the homelessness crisis in Ontario. With the number of homeless individuals continuing to rise, a collaborative and comprehensive approach is needed to ensure that everyone has access to safe and stable housing.