A coalition of Ontario mayors and regional advocates, led by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, is urging provincial and federal governments to increase and stabilize funding to address the growing homelessness and addiction crises in the province. The coalition, which includes Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM), the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), and other organizations, […]

A coalition of regional advocates is urgently calling for dedicated shelter spaces for women and gender-diverse individuals in the Region of Waterloo, highlighting a significant gap in available services. The Sanguen Health Centre’s open letter stresses the dangerous situations faced by women due to the lack of gender-specific shelters, particularly in Cambridge, which exacerbates their

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the growing issue of inmates being released from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s without stable housing is raising concerns. According to Dan McGettigan, founder of Turnings, a non-profit focused on rehabilitation, the shortage of affordable housing, fragmented community support, and a high number of pretrial detainees contribute to this problem.

P.E.I.’s housing minister, Rob Lantz, says he was inspired by his recent visit to Calgary to rethink approaches to addressing homelessness on the island. In Calgary, Lantz observed a collaborative model among service providers, which he believes P.E.I. should adopt. This approach involves regular meetings, information sharing, and client referrals between agencies, acknowledging that no

A new mobile health-care clinic in Winnipeg, launched as a pilot project, is already making significant strides in serving the city’s homeless and at-risk populations. This initiative, a collaboration between the Manitoba government and the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, aims to address the barriers that these individuals face in accessing traditional health

The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) has a Community Engagement and Wellbeing Branch focused on improving relations with individuals affected by mental health issues and homelessness. Established over two years ago, this branch has 17 officers, including Const. James Mitchell, who combines social work with law enforcement duties. Const. Mitchell and his team work to

The City of Greater Sudbury reports a significant rise in homelessness, with approximately 200 people now living in encampments across 49 locations as of July 23. This is an increase from 77 people in 44 locations a year ago. The city’s approach involves using municipal bylaw officers to connect encampment residents with services and issue

Darko Lukic, 48, died in hospital on July 21 after being found unconscious and seriously assaulted outside his apartment at 122 Base Line Rd. W., a London & Middlesex Community Housing (LMCH) complex. His death is now being investigated as a homicide. Lukic, who lived across the hall from Marnie Lougheed, was described as a

For eight years, James Caughill and his dogs have walked thousands of kilometers across Canada to highlight the shortage of homeless shelters that accept pets. Caughill’s journey began in 2016 after he became homeless when a rental scam left him without savings and unable to find shelter that allowed his dog. Despite efforts to find

Kinngait is set to receive up to 70 new public housing units by 2030 as part of the Nunavut 3000 initiative, a major territorial project aimed at addressing severe housing shortages in Nunavut. Last week, a team from Nunavut Housing Corp., the Department of Community and Government Services, NCC Land Development Ltd., the Lands for