Belleville calls on Ontario government to acknowledge the homelessness crisis and commit to ending it

WHEREAS the homelessness crisis is taking a devastating toll on families and communities, undermining a healthy and prosperous Ontario; and

WHEREAS the homelessness crisis is the result of the underinvestment and poor policy choices of successive provincial governments; and

WHEREAS homelessness requires a range of housing, social service and health solutions from government; and

WHEREAS homelessness is felt most at the level of local municipal governments and the residents that they serve; and

WHEREAS municipalities are doing their part, but do not have the resources, capacity or tools to address this complex challenge; and

WHEREAS leadership and urgent action is needed from the provincial government on an emergency basis to develop, resource, and
implement a comprehensive plan to prevent, reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Ontario.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Belleville calls on the Provincial Government to immediately:

• Acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic, and health crisis;
• Commit to ending homelessness in Ontario;
• Work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource, and implement an action plan to achieve this goal;

AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this motion be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; the Minister of Health, the Association of AA Ontario (AMO), the Honorable Todd Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Bay of Quinte, and the Honorable Ric Bresee, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hastings-Lennox and Addington.