Hamilton council discusses budget for growing housing crisis

Hamilton city councillors struggled with the issue of homelessness as they discussed the city’s budget Tuesday and say it’s up to higher levels of government to step in and help solve Hamilton’s housing crisis.

In the grips of a cold and snowy stretch of winter, Hamilton city councillors heard some hard facts on the issues of homelessness and housing.

Figures show there are 1,633 people listed as homeless as of the end of December and 618 shelter beds available in the city.

It leaves 1,015 people without housing, forcing at least some of them into tents as the city struggles to help.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done and what we will be doing and I’m not going to let people die on the streets.” said councillor Ted McMeekin.

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Despite the strides that are being taken, councillors say the city cannot do it alone.

“The province is not coming to the table to assist us with the homeless and housing file that we have. The provincial government is asking us to take on more and more responsibility and our taxpayers simply don’t have that kind of money.” said councillor Brad Clark.

According to the city, the amount it pays for housing has been growing higher and higher, while the investment from the federal and provincial governments continues to drop.

It says it wants to help the homeless, but needs help to do it.

“It’s frustrating and it’s not just our city. We know that it’s a problem across Ontario and Canada.” said Mayor Andrea Horwath.

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“We simply don’t have the capacity at the local level to carry that investment. And these folks are Hamiltonians, they’re Canadians, they’re Ontarians. All three orders of government should be stepping up.”

Funding isn’t the only point of contention. The city says provincial building policies are also working against Hamilton, with developers putting up small units for investors rather than larger, affordable units for families.

“I heard that we’re not going to be able to build our way out of this?” said councillor Alex Wilson.

“But we’re going into this we’re bound, gagged, handcuffed by the province and we’re trying to find the best solutions we can in this disaster of a policy context.”

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The city council is taking up the housing issue as it tries to keep the property tax increase this year below eight per cent.

One solution put forward by local advocate Angela Vos calls for the downtown armoury to be opened up for the city’s unhoused as taxpayer money continues to keep heat running through a building currently sitting empty.

Officials, though, say the city can’t afford the staff and investments needed to make that work.

“I don’t even know if we would have the physical resources in terms of people able to provide that in our community even if an agency wanted to and even if the provincial government helped us pay for that.” said Mayor Horwath.