Why the homelessness crisis could get even worse

Toronto is in the throes of a homelessness crisis that’s only getting worse, but new budgets from the federal and provincial governments have failed to offer a life raft, says the head of the city’s shelter system. The city is spending $317 million more than it has to operate shelters this year, he said. While Ontario’s budget promised $48 million more for supportive housing — out of $202 million provincewide — he said there was less funding for federal-provincial housing subsidies. Federally appointed housing advocate Marie-Josée Houle labelled the recent federal budget a “sorry disappointment,” panning it as skimming over homelessness, presenting “no new ideas” and offering inadequate funding. The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness accused federal officials of being blind to the “scale and urgency” of the problem.