Rural Municipal Leaders Support ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign To Address Homelessness And Mental Health
by Bob Montgomery
Rural Municipal Leaders are throwing their support behind the Solve the Crisis Campaign to Address Homelessness and Mental Health.
Representing 230 municipalities and over 2.6 million people across Ontario, the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus join the call to action around the ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign led by the Ontario Big City Mayors. During their joint meeting at the start of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario 125th Conference, the three caucuses are announcing their collective support around the need for the Ontario and Federal Governments to take immediate and targeted action to help solve the crisis around homelessness and mental health.
There is a homelessness and mental health crisis happening on streets across all communities, big and small, rural and urban. Municipalities continue to step up but they don't have the tools, expertise or capacity to fully address the intersectional and complex issues around housing, homelessness, health care, and social services.
They appreciate the actions that both the Federal and Ontario Governments have taken to-date, including Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness, the creation of the Homelessness Prevention Program, and investing in youth wellness hubs. But more has to be done to ‘Solve the Crisis’ together as government partners and we need to act swiftly. As municipalities continue to grow, the rising number of homeless encampments and the human toll of the opioid crisis are a symptom of deeper system failures that hurt Ontario's overall social and economic prosperity.
The Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus will be sending a letter to Premier Ford to further underscore the need for a Social and Economic Prosperity Review. We need a municipal fiscal relationship that supports the foundations of a strong economy, sustainable communities and quality of life that reflects modern day and front-line realities
Organizations and Ontarians can join the call to support the ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign by visiting www.solvethecrisis.ca.
Photo courtesy of Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus
