Mayor Neil Ellis announced the creation of the Understanding Homelessness Task Force (Task Force) to review issues relating to the addiction, mental health and homelessness crisis impacting the community.
The Task Force will examine the strategies of other Canadian cities to deal with encampments, explore so-called mini-homes and how police should respond in an effort to create a “gold standard” strategy.
The findings are due before the end of its term late in 2026, and will point to the need for action from both Hastings County and at the provincial level.
It seems like Groundhog Day again to do this, but we are not going anywhere the way things are now
We’ve spent millions of dollars on policing, EMS and all the ripple effect of what homelessness is costing us in this city. It probably costs more to be homeless than it would be to try and house them.
Mayor Neil Ellis
There are some very key partners to this problem that are absent. Very, very absent. Their silence is deafening
…
I don’t think there has been significant movement forward since the summit. It shined a light but didn’t move forward in a meaningful way.
CAO Matt MacDonald
The Task Force will be chaired by the Mayor and will include one additional member of Council, representatives from Belleville Police Service, Hastings County and other key community partners.
The Task Force will provide a structured forum to review issues relating to the addiction, mental health and homelessness crisis, and for coordinating the efforts of community partners. Adoption of the Terms of Reference will formally establish the Task Force and allow its work to begin.
The Task Force is intended to operate within existing City resources. Staff support will be provided by a staff member acting as Committee Clerk. Costs associated with meeting notices, agendas, and public hearings will be absorbed within current budgets. The work of the Task Force will complement enforcement efforts already underway by the Belleville Police Service in the downtown area and will provide Council with a coordinated approach to both emergent issues and long-term strategies.
The goal of the Task Force is to form an action/communication plan that can be implemented quickly and make a measurable impact on the crisis our community is facing while we await further support from our federal and provincial partners.
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