Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus is calling on the federal government to take some immediate action to provide people with affordable housing.
Angus says the number of people who are homeless is growing and it's becoming too much for local social service agencies to take care of.
In Timmins alone, the number of homeless people is growing and is much higher than what has been previously predicted.
Jason Sereda is the coordinator at Living Space, a Timmins organization that looks to alleviate and prevent homelessness.
"The 800 point, it was determined in the last two point-in-time counts that were conducted both in 2011 and this past summer, 2018. But, we know from experience that those point-in-time counts do miss people. So, if talking to service providers, we're confident in estimating the number is well above a thousand." said Sereda.
Homelessness is an issue across the country and the Timmins-James Bay MP says the federal government needs to return to what it used to do and that is to invest in housing.
"We need the federal government to say 'we recognize the extent of the problem. We're willing to work with partners; with the city; with the province, to start planning good, safe, secure housing.’ So, the people can live and have a quality of life." said Angus.
Sereda says the new partnership that sees the Timmins Native Friendship Centre shelter more people when the temperature drops to minus 27, is a big help, but it's not a permanent solution.
He says there is not enough housing for people who are living on fixed incomes.
"So, they need those single room occupancies, those boarding houses, the rooms above bars, the full spectrum of housing for the people in this community. We know it's just not affordable for the people accessing Ontario Works and ODSP." said Sereda.
Angus says he'll be pushing the housing issue hard with this being an election year.
He says the complacent attitude that housing will appear somehow has to stop, because he says he isn't seeing it happen in the north.
