An Update on Housing and Homelessness
AMO’s campaign on homelessness and housing is building momentum.
Yesterday, an op-ed by AMO President Colin Best and Executive Director Brian Rosborough was published in the Toronto Star on Ontario’s homelessness emergency. The op-ed builds on AMO’s call to action that encourages all members, municipal associations and District Social Service Administration Boards (DSSABs) to pass the resolution calling on the provincial government to commit to ending homelessness in Ontario.
Nearly 30 resolutions have been passed to date, and more are coming in daily. The campaign has also been generating significant local media coverage in communities across the province.
AMO greatly appreciates the action taken by our members thus far. Hearing from municipal voices across the province is a critical part of the call on the provincial government to act on these urgent issues.
Register for AMO’s In-Person Ending Homelessness Symposium
AMO is inviting elected officials and municipal staff to attend an in-person Ending Homelessness Symposium on May 3 & 4, 2023. Check out our website for more information on the program topics, and how to register.
Ontario Announces Housing Supply Action Plan Implementation Team Members
AMO was pleased to see seven additional housing experts and industry leaders appointed to the province’s Housing Supply Action Plan Implementation Team. AMO is confident that the Chair, Mayor Drew Dilkens of Windsor, and Vice-Chair, Mayor Cheryl Fort of Hornepayne will add a strong municipal voice in these conversations which are expected to start in the coming weeks.
AMO has been advocating for the Housing Supply Action Plan Implementation Team since it was announced last year and believe the Team is a great mechanism to evaluate progress and provide advice in implementing Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plans and tackling the housing supply crisis.
AMO Submission on Municipal Reporting Requirements
On March 8, 2023, AMO submitted comments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s consultation on a proposed municipal reporting regulation for the 29 largest and fastest-growing lower- and single-tier municipalities in Ontario.
The submission reflects the feedback of planning staff from interviews conducted by AMO staff with each of these 29 municipalities. These discussions highlighted that transparency in planning processes, open data, and continuous improvement are important areas of focus. The submission also makes recommendations to track additional areas that municipalities believe would help the proposed reporting regulation tell a more complete story about planning and development processes.
Help Keep Homelessness and Housing Top of Mind for Ontario 2023 Budget
In the lead up to the Ontario 2023 Budget, AMO has created the following tools for members to use to promote our work on homelessness and housing. AMO members are asked to consider:
- Passing the resolution to call on the provincial government to commit to ending homelessness in Ontario.
- Publishing a news release on housing and homelessness priorities for the 2023 Budget;
- Using text and graphics from AMO’s social media toolkit for municipalities for social media posts on AMO’s Pre-Budget Submission , Bill 23, and Ending Homelessness
- Using key messages on housing and homelessness when writing or meeting with local MPPs.
