'It's life and death': Shelter funding in London unclear as winter approaches
MP Peter Fragiskatos asking province to match federal funds for homeless supports
It's become an annual question in London, Ont., as the leaves turn and the temperature falls: How will the city's overnight homeless shelters be funded?
As it stands now, 90 beds shared between Ark Aid Mission's two shelters in East London are only funded until the end of December. City council voted in June to spend $1.8 million to fund Ark Aid until year's end.
That expiration date is now weeks away, raising again the potential of shelter beds closing just as the life-threatening, sub-zero temperatures arrive.
"It's pretty drastic," said Tyler, who often sleeps outside and didn't want his last name used. "It's hard to see all these people out here. Realistically, it's just going to get worse. When winter comes, it's like life and death."
Tyler was one of a few dozen people who lined up on Tuesday at the corner of Lyle street and Dundas streets where the charity City Street Outreach was handing out food, as they do a few times a week.
Paul Presant helps organize the food service. He also worked previously with Ark Aid. He said the number of people who sleep outside in London has grown sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, inflation has pushed up the cost of living.
"The numbers have exploded," he said about the number of people on London's streets. "There was a time when you knew everybody on the street, now it's impossible. If they don't continue shelter funding, it would be a disaster."
Billie, who has experience living unsheltered, agrees. She also didn't want to give her name.
"People are freezing and dying out here, I've had friends die and it's not right," said Billie. "Right now it's a mess. There needs to be a lot more funding."
What politicians are saying
Politicians who spoke to CBC News about the funding question don't disagree and say the funding needs to flow before the snow flies..
Mayor Josh Morgan, speaking on CBC's London Morning on Monday, acknowledged the need, but said the city can't support a shelter system without help from senior governments.
"The ability to fund those beds in the future is very dependent on other levels of government coming through with specific funding envelopes," he said.
Morgan pointed to $250 million announced in the federal government's spring budget to help end encampments and transition people into stable housing. So far, that money hasn't been allocated.
"This is a great news announcement but the money needs to flow before winter," said Morgan. "It is getting cold. We need the support now."
London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos, speaking Tuesday on London Morning, said the intention was that the money would have been allocated by now.
"I hear the urgency in the mayor's voice," said Fragiskatos after hearing an audio clip of Morgan. "We understand how critical this is. We want to make sure we help as many communities as possible."
Fragiskatos said part of the hold-up is at Queen's Park. He said the intention was that the federal money would be matched with provincial funds, effectively doubling how many people it can help. He said so far, the province hasn't committed to kicking in matching funds.
"We need the province to step up and match the funds that the federal government is willing to allocate," said Fragiskatos.
Fragiskatos said if necessary, the federal money will be doled out without matching money, but said matching funds would help more people.
"This is something the province's needs to be a part of," he said. "It is a shared area of responsibility."
Province says Ottawa is not stepping up
The provincial government said it gave the City of London $21 million this year to spend on homelessness prevention, an increase of 40 per cent from past years.
CBC News requested an interview with Paul Calandra, Ontario's housing minister, but it was denied. Instead, his director of communication said Ottawa has underfunded Ontario by more than $400 million.
"It's about time the federal government finally showed an interest in how they will match the hundreds of millions of dollars Ontario is investing to combat homelessness," wrote Justine Teplycky.
She pointed to the $378 million announced in August to open 19 homelessness and addiction recovery treatment, or HART, hubs in Ontario. That money has not yet been allocated, with one service agency in London currently working on a proposal.
The province said if the London HART hub project is approved, the plan is to have it, and others across Ontario, open by March 2025.
Shelter operator waiting for funding
While the three levels of government work out the funding, Ark Aid executive director Sarah Campbell can only wait. Last week, when London had its first overnight frost, Ark Aid's 90 beds were full and she had to turn away 50 people seeking shelter from the cold.
Ark Aid has submitted a plan to the city for year-round funding to cover the cost of the existing 90 beds. It comes with a $4.2-million price tag, but Campbell said it's the best value for money because there are significant savings that come with consistent funding.
Campbell said without the emergency shelters, encampments won't go away.
"When we're saying we need to have our parks for use by everybody, there has to be an option for people," said Campbell. "If there's no option, then our winter bed programs is tents."
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