The mayors of the 29 largest cities in Ontario are urging the provincial government to declare a state of emergency due to what they describe as a “community safety and humanitarian crisis” resulting from homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction issues. This call for action was made unanimously by the Ontario Big City Mayors, who are requesting increased funding and more meaningful collaboration with cities and other stakeholders.
According to the mayors caucus, municipalities have shouldered over 50% of the $4.1 billion spent on homelessness and housing programs in 2024. Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington and chair of the caucus, emphasized that current funding levels are unsustainable for cities and that addressing homelessness should not solely rely on property tax revenue. The mayors are committed to allocating resources to assist those in need and prevent further suffering on the streets.
In response, a spokesperson for the minister of municipal affairs and housing highlighted the significant investments the province has already made to combat homelessness. Ontario has allocated $75.5 million for constructing supportive and affordable housing, creating additional shelter spaces, and providing $1.7 billion to municipalities for enhancing supportive housing through initiatives like the Homelessness Prevention Program. Additionally, close to $550 million is being allocated to establish 28 homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs known as HART hubs.
Despite these efforts, the mayors emphasized that the current level of spending is insufficient to fully tackle the homelessness crisis. Referring to a report released by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario earlier this year, the mayors stressed the need for a total investment of $11 billion over the next decade to effectively address homelessness. Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie of Toronto echoed these sentiments by stating that while there has been some provincial support, municipalities cannot overcome this challenge alone.
The mayors are pushing for increased collaboration and financial support from the provincial government to address the pressing issues of homelessness, mental health, and addiction that are affecting communities across Ontario.