Municipal conference in Sudbury focuses on homelessness
How cities approach homelessness was a main topic of discussion at Day 2 of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference in Sudbury.
Greater Sudbury's presentation on homelessness at FONOM emphasized the need for collaboration among municipalities.
“We know that we are the largest urban centre in northern Ontario but there is a lot of people here representing small communities,” said Gail Spencer of the City of Greater Sudbury.”
“I think collaboration is probably even more important in their communities when you’re trying to deal with social issues like homelessness.
The presentation was attended by numerous mayors of municipalities big and small, who are all seeing the effects of homelessness in their own communities.
“It’s always nice to hear that you’re not alone,” said North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico.
“All those same problems you have in your communities are shared and working together, we can solve them.”
Temagami Mayor Dan O'Mara said homeless people in smaller centres naturally gravitate to larger communities with more services.
“In a small community like Temagami, we don’t have the capability or infrastructure to support that,” O'Mara said.
“So a lot of them will end up in places like North Bay or Sudbury or the larger centres.”
Tory Delaurier, mayor of Iroquois Falls, said all communities are feeling the pressure.
“Timmins, north of us, is seeing a lot more,” Delaurier said.
“It's 45 minutes away but it's affecting us.”
The presentation reflected on the city's strategy to close the homeless encampments at Memorial Park in 2021, the transitional housing pilot site and the Lorraine Street development.
A proposed solution set to be presented to council this month is the city's strategy to end homelessness by 2030, presented by Coun. Mike Parent last fall.
“The goal here is to stop what we're doing and look at a new way to be able to have the outcomes we want, which is reducing homelessness on our streets, helping persons who are suffering from mental health and addictions and get them into a home,” Parent said.
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“So the ‘housing first’ approach is going to be the lead theme
FONOM will wrap up Wednesday with presentations about health care, roads and the northern immigration pilot program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Do this once a month and extend your life by up to 10 years. No gym required
Research shows that art experiences, whether as a maker or a beholder, transform our biology by rewiring our brains and triggering the release of neurochemicals, hormones and endorphins.
Mackenzie Hughes 'gutted' after falling short at RBC Canadian Open
Mackenzie Hughes had the dream scenario of winning the RBC Canadian Open in his hometown within reach but then it all slipped away.
Motorcycle doing wheelies, weaving in, out of traffic caught on Highway 417
A motorcycle driver is facing charges after being caught on Highway 417 doing wheelies and weaving in and out of traffic, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says.
Oilers advance to Stanley Cup final by beating Stars in Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers rode their special teams and goaltender to victory on Sunday, beating the Dallas Stars 2-1 to win the National Hockey League's Western Conference and earn a berth in the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers.
'Rotten rock': Climate change altering the face of Canadian mountaineering
The Abbot Pass hut stood for decades in a rugged saddle between two iconic peaks, overlooking the limpid turquoise of Banff National Park's Lake Louise — a destination for alpinists from around the world until the ground melted beneath it and forced its closure.
North Korea says it will stop sending trash balloons as South Korea vows strong retaliation
South Korea said Sunday it’ll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations.
'The legacy I want to leave:' Mother with Stage 4 cancer advocates for survivors
People around the world are observing National Cancer Survivor Day, an annual celebration held to honour patients who have been through the often difficult and traumatic experience of living with cancer.
Driver missing after vehicle plunges into the Riviere-des-Prairies between Montreal and Laval
Emergency response crews are on the scene Sunday morning after a vehicle plunged into the Riviere des Prairies in Montreal.