London city council on Tuesday voted to extend one-time funding to help Ark Aid Mission keep its shelter spaces open for two more months. But many councillors said the city needs a comprehensive and fully funded plan to support for the city's homeless population.

The 14 councillors present all voted to spend $687,000 from a city reserve fund to extend winter funding for 120-bed shelter organization this year, to allow it to operate shelter services and other supports at four locations until the end of July.

One of Ark Aid's shelters, which provides 65 beds at the corner of William St. and Queens Ave., was set up quickly last fall to support the city's winter response to homelessness.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis said he supported the funding request on the merits of the organization's work over the winter.

"If we are going to extend additional agencies, I believe what we are doing is just setting ourselves up for this continuing extension one after another," he said. "We can't keep back-filling with one-time funding for every organization in the city."

A proposal at Tuesday's meeting to provide a $130,000 funding extension for Safe Space London — a volunteer-run support centre for sex workers and women in crisis — was referred to a future council committee meeting.

Ark Aid has submitted a plan to the city for year-round funding for their services, at a cost of $6 million.

Staff told councillors that proposal will have to be evaluated before it comes to council for consideration. Ark Aid executive director Sarah Campbell told council that any gap in funding for its shelters means trained employees have to be laid off, creating a staffing problem if funding should return.

She said the shelter system now is at the same size as it was in 2020 when about 400 people slept outside in London.

"We estimate that there are over 2,000 people living on the streets of London," said Campbell. "Our shelter system is at capacity and has been for many years."

Coun. Susan Stevenson has been a consistent critic of the city providing financial support for Safe Space.

Her comments triggered a letter Tuesday signed by directors of various service agencies including Anova, Safe Space and the London Homeless Coalition arguing that her comments are doing harm to their organizations.

"This targeting is not just affecting these organisations, but to those who may seek out supports," the letter said. "Publicly questioning an organisation's ability to deliver service could stop a survivor from accessing critical services in a moment of need."

Stevenson said Tuesday she does not support SafeSpace continuing to operate in Old East Village. She said the concentration of services for street-street involved people there is harming the neighbourhood.

The funding request for SafeSpace will come back to council's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee meeting on May 28.