This week, municipalities across Ontario had to submit their requests for meetings with provincial ministers at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in January.
Lennox and Addington County chose to request a session to talk about homelessness after chief administrative officer Brenda Orchard reminded councillors the County’s social services department was not successful in obtaining Home For Good funding to address instances of homelessness this year. Councillors heard most of the successful applicants were from areas in urban communities.
It may seem odd to many that a rural community would have a homelessness problem as there often aren’t people sleeping and living in the streets, but nonetheless, it happens and it is a real concern. In fact, Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey conducted in 2014 suggests a higher percentage of Ontario residents 15 and older living in smaller centres have experienced homelessness or hidden homelessness (the latter by a higher margin) than those residing in urban areas.
Hidden homelessness can take many different forms, making it tough for most people to quantify. It’s people who couch surf at friends or relatives’ homes, it’s people who enter into less-than-ideal relationships to put a roof over their heads, and it’s those living who camp out or live in residences without sufficient water or heating.
The causes are also numerous. Rents have outpaced the means of many to pay — be they social assistance recipients, seniors living on fixed incomes, or people who have access to just precarious employment or low-wage jobs more common in rural areas. Higher energy prices have driven the costs of housing, food, and transportation higher. There are simply not enough affordable housing units to go around.
Research also indicates that in communities where secure housing is lacking, there’s an increase in demand that puts pressure on emergency services and supports. It’s a vicious circle if not adequately addressed.
That the County is willing to make homelessness and affordable housing a priority is a positive step toward averting the crisis many rural communities are facing. Where there is talk and where there is community collaboration, solutions often follow. Thankfully, established agencies and organizations in this community already work tirelessly for change.
In a cash-strapped province where the private sector is feeling the pinch of competing on a global market, it is hard to imagine a sustainable solution coming via an influx of cash. Thus, creative solutions are required.
Government must be a catalyst in researching the economic determinants of poverty and homelessness and provide incentive to counter them. A little incentive for those able to offer affordable units, create stable employment, or eliminate barriers such as inadequate transportation or food insecurity would go a long way.