Hamilton considers registry for residents to host unhoused people

Hamilton city council is looking into the possibility of having residents volunteer to host people experiencing homelessness.

The vote was carried nine to six on Wednesday to look at the feasibility of this solution.

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The advocate registry for homelessness was moved by Ward 5 councillor Matt Francis.

“This is a big issue and it will take a big effort comprised of many small actions,” Francis said.

Ward 8 councillor John Paul Danko, who voted in favour of the registry said, “There’s a spectrum of people that are sleeping rough for a number of different reasons and some of them might just need a place to stay for a few days in order to get back on their feet and I think that’s where a program like this might fit in.”

One Hamiltonian CHCH News spoke with said, “I think it’d be good because there’s a lot of people that are on the street and they need housing more than anything.”

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Others are more critical of the idea and think other innovative solutions need to be brought to the table.

Jennifer Bonner from The Hub in Hamilton said that a solution like this could possibly cause more community harm.

“There’s creative solutions on the table already, the tiny homes project, things like that, where there have been multiple discussions, multiple feasibility studies done, proven research, and yet we’re trying something new again?” Bonner said.

“It feels like we have all these committees and all this time spent to shift liability as opposed to actually caring about people that are on our streets.”

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The Hamilton YWCA says the focus needs to be on providing sustainable housing solutions and support.

“I think we need to focus resources and really address the root causes of the housing and homelessness crisis and we really need immediate safe permanent affordable housing across the continuum as well as policy changes that increase affordability and access to housing,” Chelsea Kirkby from YWCA Hamilton said.

Staff are being directed to look at the potential financial impacts and liabilities of the idea and report back to the general issues committee.

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