August 18 council presentation

 

Madam Chair Redman,

Councillors and staff

 

I am delegating today in support of 7.1.2 on your agenda, the recommended motion regarding  the Interim Response to Homelessness and recommended motion at 8.1 showing where the funding will come from.

I am very encouraged with the steps that council and staff have taken to recognize encampments through the Hybrid Shelter/Outdoor model listed as item 4.

Recognizing camps as part of the solution to homelessness is a recognition that living rough is a reality for many, and it is incumbent upon the Region, working with community partners and the Cities and Townships, to find ways for campers to live safely.

I encourage the Region to continue its outreach and work with social agencies that are on the ground currently providing assistance to campers, like those at Victoria and Weber.  We have a strong resource available in the Kitchener’s Lived Expertise Working Group.

This is an across the Region all hands-on deck emergency

The cities must be willing partners and that includes helping to identify safe spaces for camping.

If we are to show that our two-tier model is working, this issue will demonstrate that.

We can advocate to the provincial and federal levels of government for assistance, but we must operate as if we are not going to receive that assistance any time soon.

Waterloo Region can accomplish much.

We did it before with substantial increases in Discretionary Benefits when the province downloaded services and responsibilities without the financial means.

We responded by significantly increasing discretionary benefits.

I commend staff and council for the motion at 8.1 that comes up with a funding plan to support the Interim Housing solutions. I recognize that the Region is funding this plan. And some on council are rightfully concerned about that. But we cannot wait for the province and federal governments to respond. This is an emergency. A public health emergency.

I support the idea of development charges being considered.  We have developers offering funds for affordable housing projects now. Let’s consider how we can best incorporate this generosity.

And yes, the provincial and federal governments absolutely need to step up and provide us with funding. We should not have to deal with this alone. You will no doubt keep up the advocacy, like the advocacy work of the Big City Mayors.

The urgency of the situation and the necessary response is immediate. And unfortunately, we can’t wait for the provincial or the federal government to respond. They should be providing us with an envelope of funds, without strings attached, without their one size fits all approach, so we can apply those funds to what we believe is the best solution for our community. A made in Waterloo solution.

I believe that this proposed approach, at 7.1.2, demonstrates an intention on the part of Regional Council to recognize the reality and take away the stigma and criminalization of homelessness. 

However, you need to take it a step further and I urge you to stop the court application.

The court application is inconsistent with the tone and intention of this new approach that the Region is proposing.

We have limited energies, resources and money that needs to be directed to and focused on finding solutions, not evictions.

This court action will only result in the authorization of police force.  Perhaps. And that is not a positive outcome.

By stopping this court application, you will be sending a more positive message, demonstrating an intent to stop criminalizing the homeless.

You don’t need the court to tell you what to do.

The court is not the forum for this issue to be dealt with.

The horseshoe that you sit at is where this matter needs, and can be resolved, working with staff and the community to come up with a solution.  

A solution that deals with the homeless and also considers the neighbourhoods and businesses where camps are located.

We are a blessed community, we are a community rich with resources, we are a generous community

Working together, talking together, we can find a positive, helping path forward.

And you have started that process today by these two motions.  

Thank you.