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Media ReleaseFebruary 2024
No Fixed Address |
With the ever escalating housing crisis, a growing number of people are confronting the harsh realities of homelessness on a daily basis. Despite concerted efforts, community services and shelter spaces are struggling to keep pace with the surging demand, leaving many without access to even these temporary solutions due to their limited capacity.
Faced with this stark reality, individuals are compelled to forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements.
As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the current plight of those living outdoors remains in a state of uncertainty. What do we know about the complexities concerning the root causes and approaches to homelessness and encampments? What responses and measures can we enact to deal with the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? What other approaches to this issue, and what steps are other municipalities taking to assist those dealing with homelessness and living in encampments?
Join our community discussion to learn more about the approaches, to have your questions considered, and to share your thoughts about making our community a safer and better place for those living with “no fixed address”.
Faced with this stark reality, individuals are compelled to forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements.
As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the current plight of those living outdoors remains in a state of uncertainty. What do we know about the complexities concerning the root causes and approaches to homelessness and encampments? What responses and measures can we enact to deal with the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? What other approaches to this issue, and what steps are other municipalities taking to assist those dealing with homelessness and living in encampments?
Join our community discussion to learn more about the approaches, to have your questions considered, and to share your thoughts about making our community a safer and better place for those living with “no fixed address”.
Quote From Event Host
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Our objective with the virtual community town halls is to facilitate open discussions on pressing issues affecting our community. This inaugural town hall for the 2024 season focuses on the complex challenges of homelessness and encampments, which have escalated to critical levels globally. As communities worldwide grapple with these issues, individuals, organizations, and governments are actively seeking effective strategies to address this crisis.
The surge in chronic homelessness is intertwined with other urgent concerns such as housing affordability, mental health, and substance abuse. This town hall presents an invaluable opportunity to glean insights from experts both within and beyond our community, who are actively engaged in devising and implementing solutions. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, we aim to cultivate a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges confronting us locally and globally. -Regional Councillor Rob Deutschman |
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The panel of expert speakers includes: Dr. Erin Dej Associate Professor, Dept. of Criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Region, ON Fiona York CRAB Park Advocate - Vancouver, BC Margaret Capes Legal Education Coordinator, Community Law School - Sarnia-Lambton, ON Greg Nash Director - Complex Urban Health, London Intercommunity Health Centre - London, ON Jaime Stief Community Advocate - Waterloo Region, ON Chantelle McDonald Director of Service, London Cares Homeless Response Services - London, ON Kaite Burkholder Harris Executive Director, Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa - Ottawa, ON Mike Lethby Executive Director, Niagara Resource Service for Youth (The RAFT) - Niagara Falls, ON |
(Video is downloadable in full screen)
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Register to receive the meeting link to attend via Zoom. Registration is free and available at www.WRCommunityTownHalls.ca. It is also available by emailing [email protected].
This series is recorded and once available, footage will be posted alongside additional topic information online. All hosted virtual segments in this series can be found at www.WRCommunityTownHalls.ca
Speaker Quote:
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"There are a lot of misunderstandings about encampments, why they exist, and their impact on encampment residents and the community at large. If we want to truly address encampments we need to ground our response in the evidence and an understanding of the reality of homelessness in 2024. This town hall is an opportunity to understand more about what's happening with encampments, learn about innovative approaches from communities across the country, and think through what a collective, meaningful response to encampments can look like."
- Dr. Erin Dej, Associate Professor, Deptartment of Criminology,
Wilfrid, Laurier University |
Images Available for Download/Sharing
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