HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-25 - No. 19 Inv/
CITY OF! { CANADA
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The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Resolution
October 7, 2025
No. 19 — Motion — Unhoused Action Plan
Moved by: Mayor Jim Diodati
Seconded by: Councillor Lori Lococo
Motion
Whereas, the last official PIT (Point In Time) count of unhoused people in 2024 found
701 people to be unhoused in the Niagara Region and by relation, approximately 25%
(175 people) are in Niagara Falls; and
Whereas, these approximately 175 people are in need of services, outreach, resources,
shelter and housing; and
Whereas, multiple community agencies are charged with providing those services,
including Niagara Regional Housing, Summer Street Shelter, Project SHARE, The Soup
Kitchen, Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare Niagara (REACH),
Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO) and Gateway of Niagara, No One Goes
Hungry, YWCA, BGC Niagara Nightlight Youth Services, Positive Living, The Salvation
Army, many more churches, etc.; and
Whereas, numerous government agencies are directly involved in providing services
and support to these 175 unhoused people, along with the vulnerable and in-need in
Niagara Falls, including Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), the
Niagara Regional Police (and NRP CORE Unit), Niagara Health, the City of Niagara
Falls; and
Whereas, efficiencies can be created among the large number of service providers by
streamlining and sharing service delivery; and
Whereas, there are many successes being achieved individually by agencies but those
successes sometimes exist in silos and are not being replicated; and
Whereas, because of challenges often experienced by unhoused people including
mental health and addictions there is a disproportionate amount of services and
resources going toward caring for and maintaining outreach; and
Whereas, everyone deserves care, concern and help with issues beyond their control;
and
Whereas, the Niagara Regional Police have enacted a no tolerance policy on open
drug use; and
Whereas, all residents, including housed people, students, families, seniors and visitors
deserve the enjoyment of public property, including parks, cemeteries, trails, amenities
and City facilities including arenas, museums, etc.; and
Whereas, because of the constant need to address overnight encampments, open drug
use, drug trafficking, addictive behaviour, disrespectful or illegal acts, vandalism and
similar activities, the continued use of public amenities by our unhoused population for
these activities has made these locations unusable by others; and
Whereas, residents and staff feel unsafe using City amenities; and
Whereas, local family businesses are adversely affected, having spent tens of
thousands of dollars on daily clean-up of drug paraphernalia, encampments, human
waste, and adding additional security measures to help protect their investments; and
Whereas, business has significantly declined in affected areas because customers are
intimated by this type of activity; and
Whereas, taxpayers fund a disproportionate amount of resources to address and
support the unhoused, vulnerable and working poor in our community; and
Whereas, outside of the need for permanent housing, there are ample resources to
serve this in-need population in our community; and
Whereas, the majority of municipal funds go toward reactive activities like clean-up,
repair, maintenance and security, rather than directly helping people in need; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, City Council engage Ken Todd, to assemble and lead
a team to create a coordinated Action Plan outlining an overarching mission, and to
focus and streamline current resources to create efficiencies, and an effective approach
to support unhoused and vulnerable people in our community.
AND The Seal of the Corporation to hereto affixed. Carried Unanimously
WILLIAM G.MATSON JAMES M.DIODATI
CITY CLERK MAYOR