Homelessness Is Reshaping Main Streets — But It Doesn’t Have To

Whether you’re in a big city or a small town, homelessness has become one of the most visible and urgent issues facing communities across Ontario.

And nowhere is that more apparent than on our main streets.

Downtowns that once bustled with shoppers, small businesses, festivals, and foot traffic are now grappling with a new reality — rising homelessness, growing encampments, and a fraying sense of public safety and social cohesion.

It’s not just a housing issue.

It’s a community issue.

It affects public space, business viability, mental health services, and how people feel about living and investing in their community.

📊 The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore

A 2025 report by AMO, OMSSA, NOSDA, and HelpSeeker lays out the scale of the crisis — and the path forward. It paints a stark but clear picture:

• 81,515 Ontarians experienced homelessness in 2024
• Chronic homelessness has tripled since 2016
• In Northern Ontario, homelessness has increased by 204%
• Youth, Indigenous communities, and refugee claimants are disproportionately affected
• There is only 1 supportive housing space for every 14 people who need one
• Waitlists for rent-geared-to-income housing top 268,000 households, with some waiting 10+ years

🧠 A Solvable Problem — with a Price Tag

Despite the scale of the challenge, the report offers something rare: a clear, evidence-based path to end chronic homelessness in Ontario.

The solution?

💰 $13 billion over 10 years.

That’s what it would take to reach functional zero chronic homelessness across the province.

This isn’t about endless spending — it’s about smarter, coordinated investment in what works:

• 🏠 75,000+ new housing and support spaces
• 🔁 A system shift from emergency shelters to prevention, rapid re-housing, and long-term support
• 💡 Reduced strain on hospitals, police, and emergency systems

We already spend billions treating the symptoms — in ERs, courts, and shelters. Investing upstream in stable housing and support is more effective, more humane, and more fiscally responsible.

🏙️ A Province-Wide Challenge Demands a Province-Wide Response

Right now, municipalities are covering over 65% of housing and homelessness costs.

They’re doing everything they can — but without the fiscal tools or resources to scale solutions.

This is not just a Toronto problem. It’s not just an urban issue.

It’s happening in regional centres, rural towns, and communities that have never seen this level of need before.

And the stakes go beyond housing.

They’re about trust in public space, the viability of small businesses, and the safety and dignity of every person who calls Ontario home.

🏁 Let’s Be Clear: This Can Be Fixed

We already know what works. We already know what it costs. What’s missing is coordination — and the political will to act.

Because everyone deserves a place to call home.

And every community deserves a thriving main street.