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Faced with a high cost of living and unaffordable housing, homelessness is growing in communities across Ontario, and more and more people are being forced to live in encampments in public spaces. 

Nobody should live in a tent. Public spaces are not meant to house people—we want people living in homes and kids playing in parks. We all want an effective and compassionate solution to encampments. 

Police enforcement and the threat of jail time are not the answers.  

Premier Ford and big city mayors from across Ontario are preparing to use police force and the threat of prison to force our neighbours out of encampments—violating their rights and placing them in danger. 

In natural disasters, like fires or floods, where we see large-scale loss of housing, cities respond by protecting people from the emergency and helping them move quickly back into their homes. When getting back home takes time, temporary housing is provided. Police don’t arrest people because their home burnt down.  
Faced with any other disaster, we trust governments to respond quickly and compassionately with accommodation that meets their needs. Homelessness is an emergency —and should be dealt with accordingly. 

Homelessness is also housing problem—people in encampments need a housing solution. You cannot force someone into treatment that doesn’t exist, and even if it did, they would still be homeless when they leave. The only cure for homelessness is a home.  

Communities need to work hand-in-hand with those directly impacted to find safe, secure housing that meets their needs.   

Anything else is expensive and ineffective—and cruel.