The Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is emphasizing the necessity for additional transitional and supportive housing units in its new 10-year housing and homelessness strategy.
Published on Wednesday, the plan outlines the roadmap for addressing the housing requirements of the community up to 2036. It is mandatory for all service managers to formulate a plan assessing the current and future housing needs of residents, as per provincial regulations.
The preceding plan was in effect from 2014 to 2024. Ken Ranta, the CEO of TBDSSAB, highlighted that the new plan encompasses all facets of the housing continuum, from homelessness to private market housing.
Ranta explained that transitional and supportive housing integrates support services within the accommodation to help individuals stabilize and achieve greater independence. He added that community housing represents the subsequent phase in this continuum.
Approximately 1,400 individuals are awaiting social housing placement, according to Ranta. Although the latest city count from last autumn identified 652 people experiencing homelessness, advocates suggest the actual figure could be twice as high.
The City Council officially declared homelessness a humanitarian crisis in February. Ranta noted that the new plan builds upon its predecessor, offering more depth and opportunities for progress.
TBDSSAB engaged OrgCode Consulting to evaluate the district’s homelessness system. The 10-year plan includes 54 objectives that the board has pledged to pursue, encompassing emergency shelters, transitional housing, encampment responses, general homelessness, community housing, and various housing benefit programs.
Crystal Simeoni, TBDSSAB’s Director of Integrated Social Services, mentioned that OrgCode’s analysis highlighted the requirements for rent-geared-to-income housing, bridge housing, supportive housing, and transitional housing.
The plan was unveiled during an all-day Homelessness Service System Forum, where community housing partners and social service agencies provided feedback and recommendations for ongoing collaboration.
Acknowledging the evolving landscape since the implementation of the 2014 plan, Ranta pointed out the escalating costs of home construction and acquisition. He emphasized the challenges posed by rising rent prices and the availability of resources and funding.
While homelessness has surged over the past decade, Ranta highlighted the increased provision of shelter and outreach services. The new plan integrates more input from individuals with lived experience of homelessness to tailor services to individual needs effectively.
The plan underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among community partners to address diverse housing demands across the district. Ranta emphasized the significance of a unified approach through shared awareness and collaboration among different organizations and support systems.