Mayor Dan Carter’s statement on the Province’s announcement to address Ontario’s homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis

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Oshawa, Ontario, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — City of Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter issued the following statement in response to… December 12, 2024 Premier Ford Press Conference Announcing the province’s investment of funding and plans to strengthen municipal legislative powers and police services to address the homelessness, mental health and addiction crisis in Ontario:

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With this announcement, I am optimistic that we are collectively moving towards addressing Ontario’s homelessness, mental health and addiction crisis and providing compassionate services and safety to those most vulnerable.

This announcement marks an important step to provide individuals in need with access to safe shelter and continuity of care as well as ensuring that our parks and public spaces are safe for everyone.

Oshawa is a strong and resilient city, defined by our compassion and commitment to supporting each other through the challenges we face. As winter approaches, the reality of the camps and their harsh conditions is a heartbreaking reminder that more must be done to ensure everyone in our community has access to safe and stable housing. The reality is that the camps are not safe, and this funding announcement and strengthened legislative powers will help save lives.

The City of Oshawa is committed to supporting our most vulnerable residents, prioritizing the safety and well-being of everyone in our public spaces. Oshawa has led the way in innovative programs and services that provide real-time support to those experiencing homelessness.

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As a collaborative partner, the City has played a key role in helping develop many of the innovative programs the region offers, including support of the Oshawa Tiny Home Project, the Durham Region Street Outreach Program (24/7), and the Primary Care Mobile Outreach Program (7 days). Week), and the mental health awareness program.

The City is also supporting the District in revitalizing Oshawa’s two community housing projects with more than 500 combined units and its plans to redevelop the former Ritson Public School to include mixed-use, sustainably built housing along with community programming.

Although the district is responsible for social services, shelters, community housing, public health and police services, the city allocates more than $3 million annually to address health and safety to support residents and businesses by:

• Supporting the downtown business community with additional lighting, security, graffiti remediation and litter removal;
• Daily cleaning of sidewalks and roads downtown;
• Daily cleaning of the streets facing commercial entrances in the city centre;
• Assist private property owners in removing drug paraphernalia;
• Providing new opportunities for downtown businesses to apply for a Community Improvement Plan grant for security and safety components;
• Proactively patrolling parks and cleaning trails and parks throughout the city;
• Increased 24/7 patrols of the city center by municipal law enforcement officers and corporate security officers; and,
• Oshawa Fire’s new Specialized Rapid Response Unit has been integrated with 20 additional firefighters to support rapid and effective response to overdose calls.

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We have done everything we can at the municipal level, but the scale of this humanitarian crisis requires significant action and investment from provincial and federal governments. This announcement is an important step towards addressing the complex issues of mental health and addiction in communities across Ontario.

As Mayor, I have been advocating for the creation of a 24/7 hospital-based mental health and addiction urgent care clinic in our city. This will provide the right care at the right time to relieve pressure on our emergency departments and first responders while also ensuring that we are better equipped to provide responsive and comprehensive care to those experiencing crises. She requested $40 million in provincial funding for mental health and addictions in Oshawa and stressed the urgency for agencies and governments to work together to focus on recovery programs in a safe and compassionate environment through a continuum of integrated care with wrap-around supports.

With this announcement we have demonstrated that we work collaboratively and are committed to helping the most vulnerable in our communities. This investment and legislation will provide the foundation to start connecting more people to the care they need, when they need it, while ensuring our parks and public spaces are safe for everyone. We will have the foundation and tools to begin moving individuals living in insecure camps into treatment programs, recovery beds and then supportive housing with the comprehensive services and care they deserve.

Media Contact:

Dan Carter
Mayor of the City of Oshawa
905-436-5611; mayor@oshawa.ca

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