Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Ontario has reintroduced Bill 6, which will punish encampments even though people have nowhere else to go. That's why we've formed the Encampment Justice Coalition. We're asking Ontario to rescind Bill 6 and commit to housing — not punishment. Read more: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

Today, I released a letter, signed by 67 organizations working across Ontario, asking the Ford government to rescind Bill 6. We can't adopt Trumpian policies to punish encampments; people need proven solutions — especially housing. Read our letter: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

Coalition against clearing encampments GUELPH – Elected officials and community members from across Ontario have formed a coalition to advocate for homeless people and campaigned to 2025 provincial election candidates to do the same.  The ...

Caton said the coalition wants “a firm commitment from all parties that they will not strip away the rights of our most vulnerable residents, and instead fund and build supportive, accessible housing that meets the needs of every community member.”
www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/coalition-ag...

To everyone who participated in our campaign, and who voted for housing and human rights, thank you. Together, we made an impact!

While we will take a break, our work isn't over. But together, we will continue to ensure dignity and human rights for all Ontarians, regardless of their housing status!

Thanks to you, our campaign has:

⊛ Sent 1,469 e-mails to candidates
⊛ Generated over 20 news hits
⊛ Pressured three of the four major parties — the NDP, Greens, and Liberals — to reject the criminalization of homeless people in Ontario.

All that’s left now is to vote.

Make yours count!

Where do the four parties stand on homelessness? Check out our handy graphic!

There is still one party — the Ontario PC Party — who have committed to making homelessness a crime in public spaces.

You can still let them know they can and should change their mind:

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

This is immensely disappointing that the Ontario PC's have recommitted to violating the rights of homeless people and criminalizing homelessness. We must put public pressure on the PC's to recognize the rights of homeless people and commit to an ethical Housing-First approach.

This is important: A prospective Ford government has signalled its intention to expand prisons and put homeless people in jail rather than build the housing that people need and that is their fundamental right.

I don't want a province that makes people homeless then throws them in prison.

Let's pressure them to change their minds! Ontarians want a solution to the housing and homelessness crisis — not to throw people in jail.

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

The graphics reads: The Ontario PC Party’s platform has stated that it intends to “clean up our streets by clearing out encampments.” They intend to do this by bringing back and passing the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime. They are the only political party in Ontario that has committed to criminalizing homelessness in the province. Every other party — the NDP, Greens, and Liberals — has said that the solution to homelessness is housing.

The Ontario PC platform has been released: static.ontariopc.ca/uploads/2025...

They have committed to re-tabling the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime in Ontario.

Every other party understands that the solution to homelessness is housing — not criminalization.

Meanwhile, here is the Ontario PC Party's response to rejecting the use of the Notwithstanding Clause to clear encampments and upholding homeless people's Charter rights ...

Crombie rejects use of notwithstanding clause to address homeless encampments “With respect to the notwithstanding clause, no, I do not support it in that instance,” Crombie said. “We need a plan for people who are homeless. We need somewhere to put them.”

Alongside the NDP, and the Green Party's rejection of "criminalizing homelessness," the Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie has said "The answer to homelessness is housing, not legal loopholes." Three of the four major parties now agree. www.qpbriefing.com/news/crombie...

‘It is shameful,’ Ontario councillors oppose encampment tear downs without solutions The notwithstanding clause would allow the provincial government to override the rights of Ontario’s homeless

OCRHP in the news! “We have a mission to protect the human rights of homeless individuals in Ontario by opposing the use of the notwithstanding clause to force them out of encampments without reasonable and supportive alternatives.” www.burlingtontoday.com/local-news/i...

One major reason why your property taxes keep increasing is because the taxes you already pay to the province aren't going back into shelter/housing. Ontario remains the only province that forces municipalities to cost share homeless programs, all while enacting policies that increase homelessness.

I encourage members of our community to join @ocrhp.bsky.social in making this a top priority election issue and to reach out to our local candidates on it. Check out www.homelessrights.ca/get-involved on how you can help.

Thank you to our local media for covering this important issue. We desperately need a Housing-First approach to homelessness and criminalizing those in need is both cruel and ineffective.

Municipalities are footing the bill for provincial inaction on homelessness and affordable housing. Their policies and funding cuts drive up property taxes and put more people on the brink of precarious housing. We need a change.

When the province announced $75.5 million to "end encampments" in December, only $44.5 million of this was new funding. This is a mere 1% increase in homelessness funding for the fiscal year.

We deserve a government who will do what it takes to end homelessness: homelessrights.ca/get-involved

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Homelessness has increased by 49% in Ontario since 2017. But the provincial government hasn't paid their fair share to address homelessness. Because Ontario isn't spending what it should, municipalities have had to increase their spending on homelessness — which comes from your property taxes. /3

A recent report from Maytree Canada showed that the Ontario government is spending less on affordable housing than in 2013, and spending more on managing homelessness — but not enough. /2

maytree.com/wp-content/u...

🧵 Homelessness is out of control in Ontario. And a lot of that is because of a lack of investment in the solution to homelessness: affordable housing. But just what is Ontario doing to address the homelessness crisis? /1

Let your local candidates know that the human rights of homeless people are important to you!

Write to them now: homelessrights.ca/get-involved

@dianacmcnally.bsky.social built a letter-writing campaign to pressure local candidates to prioritize affordable housing, reject the use of the Notwithstanding Clause to clear encampments, and take a human rights approach to homelessness. 🙏🗳️

Please sign here:

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

Last night, @ontarioliberal.bsky.social @bonniecrombie.bsky.social criticized invoking the Notwithstanding Clause against homeless people. She stopped short of refusing its use altogether. The Liberal platform includes:

- Doubling ODSP/OW
- Phased-in rent controls
- An emergency fund for renters

Last night, @ontariogreens.bsky.social leader @mikeschreiner.bsky.social both supported the NDP's encampment plan and criticized the PC's criminalization of homelessness. The Green's platform includes:

- 60K supportive homes
- 250K non-profit homes
- Modular housing
- ⬆️ funding for women's shelters

The @ontariondp.bsky.social have the only platform to address encampments, which party leader Marit Stiles addressed in last night's debate. It includes:
- 60K supportive housing units
- Uploading shelter funding to the province from municipalities
- A full suite of rent control
- Doubling ODSP/OW

Mike Schreiner says he supports the @ontariondp.bsky.social's encampment platform, but stresses that the provincial government must double down on building housing — and questions Stiles' potentially creating creating what he views as additional bureaucracy.

Doug Ford of the @ontariopcparty.bsky.social refuses to address other party leaders speaking about his party's history of criminalizing homelessness. Instead, he deflects his comments to supporting police.

Stiles rejects mayors' call for notwithstanding clause to deal with encampments Her comments come in response to mounting pressure from municipal leaders who have sought provincial intervention to address the growing number of encampments.

We have already heard @ontariondp.bsky.social reject the use of the Notwithstanding Clause to clear encampments. They remain the only party to have policy specific to reducing and supporting encampments as part of their electoral platform.

www.qpbriefing.com/news/stiles-...

@ontariogreens.bsky.social's Mike Schreiner has also taken a stance against criminalizing homelessness. Again, we'll be pushing for a clear commitment to ensure the protection of homeless people's Charter rights. #ONpoli #Debate