‘Solve the crisis’ campaign
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sault Business Matters has received the following media release from the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association.
NOSDA supports Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) and Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) to back ‘Solve the Crisis’ Campaign to Address Homelessness and Support Vulnerable Populations.
The Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM), representing Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie, have united in support of Ontario’s Big City Mayors’ (OBCM) ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign, calling for immediate and decisive action from the Government of Ontario to address the escalating homelessness crisis.
Municipalities across the North are struggling to manage the impacts of homelessness without adequate support from higher levels of government.
NOSDA members are made up of the 10 District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) and the City of Greater Sudbury who provide human services to the 144 municipalities in Northern Ontario. NOSDA members are on the frontlines working with local community groups, social services agencies, non-profits, emergency services and municipalities to address the homelessness crisis.
The humanitarian crisis unfolding on Ontario’s streets is a stark reality: unprecedented numbers of individuals are experiencing homelessness, residing in unsafe encampments, and grappling with severe mental health and addiction issues. Despite the efforts of municipalities, NOSDA members and community organizations, the crisis is worsening, and existing measures are proving insufficient.
“We cannot tackle this crisis alone,” said Michelle Boileau NOSDA Chair and Mayor of Timmins. “The complexity and scale of the issue require a coordinated, well-resourced response that goes beyond the capabilities of individual municipalities. The ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign outlines clear, actionable steps that can drive meaningful change.”
“We are committed to addressing homelessness and supporting our most vulnerable residents,” said Debbie Ewald NOSDA Co-Chair and Mayor of Rainy River. “However, the resources and expertise required to effectively manage and resolve this crisis must come from a unified, provincial approach.”