Solve the Crisis.
That’s the name of Ontario’s Big City Mayors campaign to help municipalities address homelessness, and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association – which includes the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board – is endorsing it.
The group, which includes the mayors of North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay says it’s more than a call for help, it’s a comprehensive plan.
Recommendations include:
- Appointing a single minister provincially to bring cross-ministry focus to this issue and fund that ministry appropriately.
- Have the new provincial minister strike a task force to advise and make recommendations on solutions to these issues with a cross-section of stakeholders and commit to funding the recommendations.
- Provide the municipality with resources to transition homeless and underused individuals to appropriate housing with the necessary supports Fund a 24/7 crisis response service across the province to relieve the pressure on hospital emergency centres and first responders.
“We cannot tackle this crisis alone,” said Michelle Boileau, NOSDA Chair and Mayor of Timmins. “The complexity and scale of the issue require a coordinated, well-resourced response that goes beyond the capabilities of individual municipalities. The ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign outlines clear, actionable steps that can drive meaningful change.”
