The financialization of rental housing has drastically affected affordability for low-income earners. Additionally, the gradual disappearance over the past few decades of single-room occupancy units has led to fewer choices. Affordable spaces in boarding and rooming houses and hotels, often occupied by marginalized, low-income singles, are no longer available to them.

The Financial Accountability Office projects that the total number of households in “core housing need” will increase to 815,500 in 2027, an increase of 80,500 from 2018. This same office also questions the ability of federal or provincial programs to bring relief to low-income households and the homeless (“2021 Housing is Fundamental“, United Way).

“FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAKING OF ONTARIO’S HOUSING CRISIS – A TIMELINE”
– Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, May 26, 2022
https://housingrightscanada.com/fifty-years-in-the-making-of-ontarios-housing-crisis-a-timeline/

What are the City and County of Peterborough doing to address homelessness?

10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan – City of Peterborough

The City and County have outlined their direction in Peterborough’s “Built for Zero” report, which aims to end chronic homelessness by 2025.

Can it be done?

“This can only be done with a collaborative, community-wide approach”. (United Way 2021) Commissioner of Community Services. Sheldon Laidman’s report #CSSS22-004, May 9, 2022, strongly recommends more proactive and preventative actions that develop an all-community response.

Many social agencies, organizations, faith groups and friends and allies of people experiencing homelessness are working daily to help but there needs to be more options.

How does PATH fit in?

On the housing continuum, PATH’s programming and housing initiatives aim to support people into transitional housing and out of emergency shelters, creating space for people to move off the streets.

What is presently available?

  • 50 sleeping cabins: transitional housing at the municipal Modular Bridge Housing Community
  • 45 overnight drop-in accommodations at Trinity Community Centre
  • 82 Emergency shelter beds throughout the city
  • The gap is at least 100. The housing crisis continues.
  • PATH phase 1 will offer transitional housing (sleeping cabins) for 24 people,
  • Path phase 2 consists of an active plan toward building self-sustaining community-first tiny homes.