Ontario big city mayors and regional chairs to collaborate on homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis
Durham Region has at least 1,871 people experiencing homelessness. That’s according to recent data published by the Town of Whitby. Now Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) are collaborating on urgent. . .
Durham Region has at least 1,871 people experiencing homelessness. That’s according to recent data published by the Town of Whitby. Now Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) are collaborating on urgent challenges facing our communities – including the homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis. OBCM is an organization that includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, who collectively represent nearly 70 per cent of Ontario’s population and almost 30 per cent of Canada’s population. Municipalities are now stepping up to invest in shelters, outreach, supportive housing, community safety initiatives, and partnerships with frontline organizations. In a statement released by Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy, the OBCM says they can’t solve the province-wide health and social services crisis on their own:We are calling for:• Expanded and timely access to recovery and treatment programs• A dedicated Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, supported by appropriate funding• A review of the Mental Health Act and Health Care Consent Act• Expanded addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs in provincial and federal correctional institutions• A declaration of emergency recognizing the severity of the homelessness, mental health and addictions crisisWe know there are successful models across Canada. What Ontario needs now is the leadership, political will, and sustained investment to put effective solutions in place here. As mayor of Whitby and chair of Region of Durham’s Health and Social Services Committee, I will continue to advocate strongly on this issue. The status quo is not an option. The human and financial costs of inaction are simply too high. Roy is encouraging Whitby residents to clickhereand join their call to action. Photo courtesy Town of WhitbyIf you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressingCtrl+Enter. Go Back