The newly formed Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People has launched an election campaign to fight for the homeless and to convince politicians of all stripes to do better to prevent unnecessary deaths.
The coalition reported 80,000 Ontarians are currently homeless and deserve affordable housing, adding that for too long governments have failed to provide affordable housing and address homelessness, which has led to a human-rights crisis of encampments across the province.
Coalition Coordinator Diana Chan McNally wants the provincial government to commit to building the necessary housing and demanded that it reject using the notwithstanding clause to remove homeless encampments from communities across Ontario. The notwithstanding clause allows governments to temporarily override sections of the Charter.
McNally said homeless people are dying every day and not one of them had to die.
"There are so many names and behind each name is a person. Someone who is cared for, who had joy and hope and far too much trauma and sadness for any one person to bear. Not one of these beautiful, wonderful people had to die," said McNally. "There are 80,000 lives at imminent risk of death all because Ontario lacks the political will to do what's required, which is to build safe, affordable housing for everyone who needs it. The 80,000 people who are homeless right now are worthy of the right to housing and the right to life and we have violated those rights. It is shameful."
The coalition said the provincial government has built the least amount of new detached housing in 70 years.
Coalition Chair Rory Nisan, who is also Deputy Mayor of Burlington, noted it costs more public money to manage homelessness through shelter, homelessness services, health care, and policing and justice costs than it does to end it by building homes.
"Research consistently shows that the cost of homelessness driven by emergency shelters, hospital visits, and justice system interactions ranges from $50,000-$60,000 per person annually, while the cost of providing permanent supportive housing with wrap around services is much lower -- $26,000 per person per year," Nisan said.
The coalition is made up of nine Councillors, including Chatham-Kent Councillor Alysson Storey, Grey Highlands Councillor Nadia Dubyk, and McNally, who is a Toronto-based community worker.
The Ontario election is February 27, 2025.
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