People experiencing homelessness in the Waterloo region face challenges in exercising their right to vote in the upcoming municipal election due to issues like lack of identification and a stable address. Without a fixed residence, obtaining the necessary identification to prove residency can be difficult. Eric Philip, CEO of Thresholds Homes and Supports, highlighted the system’s limitations in supporting at-risk individuals, stating that it is more geared towards those with addresses and financial stability.
Additionally, individuals without a permanent address may struggle to receive voter information cards without a mailing address. Janet Doucette, who previously lived on the streets for six years but now resides in supportive housing in Guelph, shared her difficulties in voting due to a lack of identification when her purse was stolen.
Thresholds Homes and Supports assist homeless individuals in establishing a residence through warming centers and shelters, enabling them to vote. According to Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, individuals without permanent housing can establish their residence using the address where they most frequently slept or ate in the previous five weeks. Shelters and outreach organizations can provide documentation to confirm an individual’s residence for voting purposes.
Philip emphasized that Thresholds actively engages with homeless individuals to facilitate their voting process, including providing transportation to polling stations and information about candidates’ platforms. He also called for increased direct engagement from political candidates with the homeless population, suggesting visits to encampments and shelters to advocate for change.
Some Kitchener mayoral candidates, such as David Alton, Wazhma Frogh, Manikantan Nair, George Trihenea, Berry Vrbanovic, and Cindy Ward, have expressed efforts to connect with people experiencing homelessness during their campaigns. Philip proposed that expanding housing options could be a long-term solution to encourage more unhoused individuals to participate in municipal elections, emphasizing the importance of enabling them to reclaim their right to vote.