Sudbury takes its next step in addressing homelessness
City council in Greater Sudbury has directed staff to get a nine-bed women’s shelter up and running while putting a priority on permanent housing solutions.
It’s part of the continuing effort to address the homelessness situation.
“City council decided to fund three different efforts. To get more people housed, to keep more people housed and to support those who are left those who aren’t wanting, ready or able to be housed with expanded shelter capacity,” said Ward 4 coun. Geoff McCausland.
According to numbers presented at Tuesday’s council meeting, there are currently 65 shelter beds and 40 warming spaces. As of Monday, staff said there were 50 people living in Memorial park and another 25 outdoors at 199 Larch.
From a flex fund to a master lease, McCausland said city staff are using innovative options.
“They don’t have the money to get back to their home community reunite with their family, so it could be all kinds of different things. It’s really a matter of what do we need the funding to make it work, so that’s flex funds and master leasing. We don’t have enough affordable housing units so instead of taking the time to build them let’s lease them,” he said.
Mayor Brian Bigger said he’s proud of the work that has been accomplished, but said ultimately the root issue of why people are homeless is not being addressed.
“Provincial supports for mental health for addictions for a living wage for Ontarians is really one of the biggest challenges, and it’s been laid to rest in front of our city council to solve these issues and I’m not feeling the support from Premier Ford,” said Bigger.
He said this is just the beginning and the city will have a supervised consumption site up and running by March and transitional housing in place by the end of 2022.
“Council has had to step up we were unable to wait any longer if we were forced to wait for the province we’d have none of this on our radar,” Bigger said.
Bigger said while there is capital funding in place for the project’s operational costs are still not covered, money is the responsibility of the province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Ford to recall some pickup trucks in Canada over tail light failure
Ford is set to recall some pickup trucks in Canada due to potential tail light failure.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.