A Tipping Point: Landmark AMO Report Highlights the Urgent Need to Solve the Crisis

On Thursday, January 9, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) released a landmark report, Municipalities Under Pressure: The Human and Financial Cost of Ontario's Homelessness Crisis. The findings are sobering: Ontario is at a tipping point. Homelessness is escalating at an alarming rate, with devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities across the province.

Here in Burlington, we have seen an increase in individuals seeking housing services, and more encampments appearing in our community, which pose safety risks to both residents and to those in the encampments. This crisis is not abstract; it directly impacts our city and our shared sense of well-being. The impact on Burlington reflects the broader trends highlighted in the AMO report, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

In 2024, over 80,000 Ontarians were known to be homeless, marking a 25% increase in just two years. More than half of these individuals experience chronic homelessness, enduring prolonged or repeated episodes without stable housing. This is not merely a statistic; it is a reflection of a system that has reached its breaking point. Each person behind these numbers is someone’s family member, friend, or neighbour.

The Disproportionate Impact of Homelessness

The report also highlights how homelessness disproportionately affects certain groups. Nearly one-quarter of chronically homeless Ontarians are children or youth, underscoring the urgency to protect our most vulnerable. Refugee homelessness has risen by over 600% in four years, and Indigenous Peoples—whose experiences are shaped by the enduring effects of colonialism—make up almost 50% of the chronic homeless population in some communities. These disparities reveal systemic issues that require targeted and inclusive solutions.

The Role of Municipalities

Despite limited resources, municipalities have stepped up to address this growing crisis. In 2024 alone, municipal spending on homelessness and housing programs exceeded $2.1 billion. Yet, municipalities cannot solve this issue alone. The provincial and federal governments must do more to share the responsibility and provide the necessary funding and support.

 Across all levels of government, AMO has reported that $4.1 billion was spent funding housing and homelessness programs in Ontario in 2024, with municipalities contributing 51.5% of this total. Ontario remains the only province in Canada where funding for social housing has been downloaded to municipalities, placing an unsustainable burden on property tax bases. Long-term, stable investments from provincial and federal governments are essential to not only build new housing and support spaces but also address the systemic causes of homelessness.

A Path Forward Through Compassion and Collaboration

The AMO report provides a roadmap for action. It calls for a fundamental shift from temporary emergency measures to long-term housing solutions. By investing an additional $11 billion over the next decade, Ontario could create over 75,000 new affordable and supportive housing units, preventing chronic homelessness and offering stable pathways out of poverty. To address the immediate priority of encampments, an additional $2 billion over eight years is needed to expand support services and transitional housing.

These investments are not only morally imperative but also economically prudent. Homelessness imposes significant costs on healthcare, emergency services, and community safety. Strategic action will save lives, reduce costs, and strengthen our communities.

The OBCM Response: A Unified Call for Action

The findings in the AMO report support the repeated calls from Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) through our Solve the Crisis campaign for action and resources from all levels of government to address this urgent and growing humanitarian crisis.

The AMO report aligns with the concerns Ontario’s Big City Mayors have been raising on these issues affecting all our municipalities. Please see my statement below, as chair of OBCM:

“Ontario’s Big City Mayors, AMO, and municipalities across Ontario have been ringing alarm bells for years. The report released today lays out how the homelessness crisis is growing at an unprecedented rate across the province – in municipalities big and small, rural and urban. We cannot face this alone, we need other levels of governments to step up. I hope that the findings and recommendations included in this report will be taken seriously by both the provincial and federal governments, and that it leads to a long-term plan with sustainable funding and services for the most vulnerable members of our communities who are suffering. We need help now.”

You can read the full press release from OBCM HERE.

In Conclusion

Homelessness is not an unsolvable problem. It is a crisis that demands compassion and urgent collaboration. We must work together across all levels of government, in partnership with Indigenous communities, non-profit organisations, and private sector stakeholders, to build a future where every Ontarian has a safe and stable place to call home.

As we reflect on the findings of this report, let us not lose sight of the human cost of inaction. Behind every number is a person with a story, a potential, and a right to dignity. Together, we can—and must—do better.

We encourage everyone to read the AMO report and join the call for meaningful action. Our community depends on it.