A new report from Ontario’s municipalities is warning that homelessness continues to rise across the province, with numbers expected to worsen significantly in the coming years without major intervention.
The report, led by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), estimates that 85,000 people were without a home in Ontario last year.
It also identified nearly 2,000 encampments across the province, underscoring the growing scale of the crisis.
AMO Executive Director Lindsay Jones says the current system is failing to keep pace with demand, citing years of underfunding by multiple levels of government.
Jones says municipalities are struggling to respond as the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to outpace available resources.
According to the report, significantly more funding is needed for income supports, mental health and addiction services, and the development of truly affordable housing.
Without those investments, the report warns homelessness will continue to increase even if economic conditions remain stable.
Under current trends, the number of people without a home in Ontario could reach 177,000 by 2035.
If the economy were to decline sharply, that number could rise to nearly 300,000 people.
Homelessness increased by approximately eight per cent in the past year alone, representing about 6,000 additional people without stable housing.
Municipal leaders are calling on senior levels of government to act urgently to prevent further escalation of the crisis.