With Ontario facing a severe shortage of shelter spaces, outreach workers are highlighting the necessity of encampments as a temporary lifeline for those experiencing homelessness. They argue that while encampments are far from an ideal solution, they provide essential refuge for individuals left without alternatives amid the growing housing crisis.
Major urban centers like Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa have seen a sharp rise in encampments as shelters reach capacity. Outreach workers attribute the surge to systemic issues, including skyrocketing housing costs, stagnant wages, and insufficient government action to address homelessness.
“Encampments are not ideal, but they’re necessary right now,” said a Toronto outreach worker. “People need somewhere to sleep. With shelters full, this is their only option.”
Despite their role in addressing the immediate need for shelter, encampments are often met with eviction orders from municipalities, citing public health and safety risks. Outreach workers warn that dismantling these sites without providing adequate alternatives further destabilizes vulnerable individuals, leaving them in even more precarious situations.
Advocates are calling for urgent action, including significant investments in affordable housing, expanding shelter capacity, and bolstering social support programs to tackle the root causes of homelessness. “Encampments are a stark reminder of the system’s failure to provide adequate housing solutions,” said one housing advocate.
The Ontario government has committed additional funding for housing initiatives, but critics argue that the pace of implementation does not match the urgency of the crisis. Meanwhile, frontline workers continue to support encampment residents with basic necessities like food, clothing, and medical care to help them survive harsh conditions.
Outreach workers warn that without swift and decisive action, the crisis will only deepen, leaving an increasing number of Ontarians without a safe place to call home.
