The Regional Municipality of York is stressing that addressing the homelessness crisis is a priority, in the wake of an eye-opening report released last week by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that found more than 80,000 Ontarians are without homes.
The report, Municipalities Under Pressure: The Growing Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis, builds on a York Region report in November 2023, according to a news release. The report shows a significant growth in homelessness, underscoring the need for co-ordinated action by all levels of government, the region stated.
“The report presents a stark picture of the realities faced by people experiencing homelessness across Ontario,” said York Region chairman and CEO Eric Jolliffe. “Addressing homelessness is a priority requiring continued partnership and co-ordination to ensure people at risk of or experiencing homelessness have access to wraparound support services to help them find and keep housing.”
In York Region, homelessness is a "growing concern" in all nine cities and towns, with the estimated number of people experiencing chronic homelessness almost quadrupling in 2023 to 473, compared to 124 in 2019.
Chronic homelessness describes people who have been experiencing homelessness for six months or longer in the past year, or people who have experienced homelessness for more than 18 months in the past three years.
The 2024 to 2027 York Region homelessness service system plan draws on research, data analysis and forecasting, as well as community consultation to set a vision, and establish goals and priority areas to prevent and reduce homelessness in York Region, the region said. As part of the action plan, the region is adding 139 beds to the emergency and transitional housing system and expanding outreach services.
Investments from the federal and provincial governments are "instrumental in advancing key milestones outlined in the 2024 to 2027 homelessness service system plan," the region added.
As part of the 2025 budget, regional council committed $72 million in capital funding to support construction of two new facilities, with up to 135 beds and $56 million in funding to replace three existing emergency and transitional housing facilities — Porter Place and Leeder Place in East Gwillimbury, and Sutton Youth Services — with 152 additional beds.
"Homelessness is a complex issue. Ending chronic homelessness requires investments from senior levels of government that target root causes, optimize system capacity and ensure housing and supports meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness," according to the region.
"York Region is working with our partners across all levels of government and within our communities, using a human rights-based approach, to address homelessness and encampments."
