Letter to the Editor:
Empty Promises Won’t End Homelessness – Action on Vacancy Rates Is Urgent
The Ontario government’s recent announcement to introduce legislation aimed at dismantling homeless encampments is a stark reminder of its misguided priorities. Premier Doug Ford has chosen to frame this issue as one of enforcement rather than compassion, opting to invoke police and penalties rather than addressing the systemic failures that lead to homelessness in the first place. This “tough on homelessness” approach misses the mark entirely, ignoring the root causes of the housing crisis while placing vulnerable individuals in greater peril.
In cities like Thunder Bay, the consequences of these policies are devastating. Our community has long struggled with rising homelessness rates, compounded by insufficient shelter capacity and a lack of affordable housing. The proposed legislation, which seeks to dismantle encampments without ensuring adequate alternatives, threatens to displace people further without resolving the systemic barriers that keep them homeless.
The government’s proposed expansion of shelters is yet another distraction from the real issue: the lack of housing. While shelters play a critical role in emergencies, they are not a substitute for permanent, stable housing. Ontario’s ongoing failure to invest in affordable housing solutions, a provincial responsibility, continues to place an undue burden on municipalities and community organizations to clean up the mess. Communities like Thunder Bay bear the brunt of this policy failure, struggling to meet the needs of people who are unhoused while provincial leaders remain focused on optics rather than outcomes.
It’s time to renew the call to action for the provincial Housing Minister to audit vacancy rates in Thunder Bay and across Ontario. Many housing units remain empty, despite the dire need for affordable and supportive housing. An immediate, province-wide audit is critical to identify these vacant units and mobilize them into housing for people currently living on the streets or in encampments.
Thunder Bay’s vacancy crisis is particularly concerning. While individuals are forced to endure sub-zero temperatures in makeshift shelters, empty units stand idle, serving no one. The province must act now to prioritize converting these vacant spaces into operational housing. With the right investment, including rent supplements, repairs, and operational funding, these units could become homes within months—saving lives and preserving dignity.
This is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic one. Housing people is far less costly than the emergency services required to manage encampments, from police interventions to healthcare crises. Every dollar spent on housing pays dividends in reducing strain on public systems. The provincial government cannot afford to ignore this truth.
Premier Ford has positioned himself as a problem-solver, yet his solution to homelessness is neither innovative nor effective. Dismantling encampments without providing homes merely shifts the problem out of sight. But homelessness is not a matter to be swept away—it is a crisis that demands thoughtful, systemic solutions.
This is a solvable problem, but it requires political will and a commitment to action. The time for empty promises is over; Ontarians deserve leadership that prioritizes people over punitive measures.
Homelessness is not a crime. It is a policy failure. Let’s start fixing it—by putting roofs over heads.
Holly Gauvin
Health and social services leader in Thunder Bay with extensive experience in health, addiction services, and housing advocacy.
