NDP calls on Ford’s Conservatives to enact a real plan for homelessness as cities continue to declare states of emergency

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP MPPs Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale – High Park) and Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre) rose in the Legislature during Question Period earlier today to address the skyrocketing number of people becoming unhoused as the housing crisis continues to get worse.

“The homelessness crisis is escalating across Ontario with more and more municipalities now declaring states of emergency of homelessness,” said Karpoche. “With over 10,000 people unhoused right now, Toronto is poised to declare a state of emergency of homelessness this week at City Council.

The Ford Conservative government is abandoning cities across the province who are in crisis.

When will this government enact a homelessness strategy and work with municipalities to improve the lives of Ontarians?”

Latest reports from media shows that Toronto City Hall is sounding the alarm about the worsening state of housing in the city as more shelters are on track to close as emergency funding runs out. Another big city facing a crisis, Ottawa, is having to ask the province for their fair share as the province continues to shortchange municipalities on funding to address housing affordability and homelessness.

MPP Wong-Tam shared a story about Fred, their constituent from Toronto Centre. “Fred is staying in a shelter, facing transphobic violence and living with bed bugs. Fred desperately wants to find stable housing, work, and complete their master's degree. But the stress of shelter life is eroding their mental health.

When will this government finally answer the call from cities begging for help and produce a real plan to fund deeply affordable housing for people like Fred?”

The Conservatives’ latest budget shows that funding to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which funds housing programs, has been cut by $124.4 million.