Sudbury aims to end homelessness by 2030

Homelessness is rising in Sudbury and at city council Tuesday night, steps were taken to end homelessness in the next 10 years.

Councillors unanimously approved a motion for a strategy to end homelessness by 2030. Ward 5 Coun. Mike Parent was behind the motion.

"The conventional ways of soup kitchens and shelters and some of the programs we've been relying on are simply not doing what we need to do,” Parent said.

“We need to put a focus on ending homelessness, housing persons, getting the support they need and getting them into a life that’s more normal for them."

The housing first approach focuses on moving individuals into independent and permanent housing, and then providing them with any further support they need.

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said while the goal is ambitious, a benchmark needs to be set to see change.

"We have to believe that or else we're going to just go through the motions,” Lefebvre said.

“We're putting a lot of time into it, a lot of funding. There’s a lot of time from staff and funding and what is the end result? We don’t want to create that this is normalized."

Homelessness is rising in Sudbury and at city council Tuesday night, steps were taken to end homelessness in the next 10 years. (Photo from video)

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the city has grown. There are more than 200 people on the city's by-name list, but the Homelessness Network estimates there's more.

"We know there are several others in the landscapes surrounding the downtown core that don’t want to sign up yet,” Raymond Landry of the Homelessness Network said.

“So we're looking at 300 persons-ish that are homeless right now."

Landry said addressing a lack of housing is a large part of the issue, but not the only solution.

"We need our partners in the community in mental health, addictions, treatment services, to come together and be part of the solution,” he said.

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“Not just around housing, but preventing further homelessness by helping those who are already housed, precariously housed or at risk of losing their houses because of affordability issues."

Lefebvre said staff will come back to the table early next year with recommendations, which will involve looking at what's being done and what's working in other communities.