KERNAGHAN: London cannot keep waiting for homelessness support

LONDON — Ontario NDP MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre) pressed the Ford government in Question Period today to match new federal homelessness funding and support frontline organizations working to keep people safe and housed.

“Speaker, organizations like Ark Aid Street Mission and 519Pursuit are doing lifesaving work in London, but they cannot keep operating on uncertainty,” Kernaghan said. “The federal government has renewed funding through the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, but the money will not flow unless the province steps up and matches it.”

Kernaghan pointed to London’s growing homelessness crisis, where more than 2,000 people are unsheltered and over 7,000 are on the housing waitlist. He also referenced calls from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for the province to partner on the federal Build Canada Homes Initiative to create more supportive and transitional housing.

“Cities are being left to patch holes while the Ford government sit on the sidelines,” said Kernaghan. “London City Council is being forced to dip into reserve funds just to keep basic outreach and drop-in services alive while people sleep outside and fight to survive.”

Kernaghan said the Ford government needs to stop dragging its feet, unlock available funding, and get housing and homelessness supports flowing immediately. “People cannot afford more delays while this crisis grows worse by the day.”