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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.