Londoners are being given a chance to learn more and provide feedback about the city's proposed plan to move homeless individuals out of encampments and into shelters and supportive housing.
The city is hosting two community engagement sessions on the matter next week. Londoners attending the in-person meetings will be able to hear details about and discuss with staff the city's proposed plan for pathways from encampments to housing. The plan is part of London's Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response.
“This plan is a key piece needed to help us support our most vulnerable people currently living outdoors, and assist them towards a pathway to housing, with a goal of reducing and eventually eliminating the need for encampments," said Kevin Dickins, the city's deputy manager of social and health development.
The two engagement sessions will also allow those in attendance to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed plan.
The engagement events are being held at the Earl Nichols Recreation Centre from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on May 21 and at the East Lions Community Centre from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on May 23.
Those who can't attend in-person can also provide feedback online through the city’s get involved engagement website.
City council approved the Whole of Community System Response in March 2023. Since then two homelessness hubs and nearly 100 supportive housing units have been created. A key component of the proposed pathways plan is transformational outreach, in which case management is provided to individuals living with complex needs. The added outreach would help those with the greatest need with problem-solving barriers to housing, securing identification, navigate income supports, mediate past conflicts with family or friends in the hopes of reunification, and advocate within health and justice systems.
"We are making progress creating and opening highly supportive housing programs and hubs within the City of London," said Chantelle McDonald, the director of service for London Cares. "The rapport-building and support work starts before opening program doors, and it starts with intentional outreach, which this proposed plan outlines. Every intentional engagement is to eventually move people into housing."
