To the editor,
Like many Canadian cities, Thunder Bay is in a housing crisis. Homelessness has never been more visible nor disruptive. Some people are choosing to live in tents while they wait for permanent or supportive housing.
For those suffering with addictions, mental health and grief, resources are often scarce and with no fixed address, challenging to deliver. There is much work to be done. Indeed, much is being done.
Last year the province tripled the District of Thunder Social Services Administration Board’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) allocation for three years. TBDSSAB is using the funding increase to expand emergency shelter and outreach services and to add new transitional housing beds.
These beds are critical to ensure residents that require support are connected with health care teams to keep them successfully housed. Since 2019, the TBDSSAB has funded 173 transitional beds in partnership with St. Joseph’s Care Group, Dilico Anishnabek Family Care, Matawa, Elizabeth Fry Society, Northern Linkage, Shelter House, NorWest Community Health and the Salvation Army.
This includes 57 beds created under the 2024 allocation of HPP funding. With two years of funding left in the current agreement, more units are on the way.
Though the funding increases through programs like HPP are timely, the work to implement them is complex, requiring coordination with community partners, builders, and health service providers. As a community we need to continue advocating, not only for more housing, but to expand front line health care and addictions services so that the most vulnerable among us can access the services and shelter that most residents enjoy.
Brian Hamilton
Chair, Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB)
