Amber Louise Culley

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to address both encampments and permanent housing.candidate's own words

I would support a Housing Pathway and Public Space Standard that connects encampment management directly to measurable housing, shelter and support outcomes. The scale of the problem requires us to do both things at once: create more permanent housing while maintaining safe, sanitary and accessible public spaces. The Region's October 22, 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 2,371 people experiencing homelessness. Of those, 1,009 were living rough, meaning they were living in encampments, on the street or in a vehicle; 446 were staying in emergency shelters; 353 were experiencing hidden homelessness; 221 were in transitional housing; and 153 were staying in Region- funded motels. Of the 1,790 people who completed the survey, 78% reported experiencing chronic homelessness.Those numbers tell me that encampments cannot be addressed simply as a public-space issue. They are also a housing and homelessness-system issue. At the same time, we need to recognize that progress is possible. In 2025, the Region supported 809 people from homelessness into permanent housing, including 390 people experiencing chronic homelessness. The Region reports that between 2022 and 2025, the number of people supported from chronic homelessness into permanent housing increased by 61%.I would build on that work by establishing clear standards for what should happen when an encampment is being managed or closed: There should be minimum standards for sanitation, fire and public safety, accessibility and outreach. People living in an encampment should receive meaningful assistance identifying available shelter, supportive housing and permanent-housing options. Where enforcement or relocation is necessary because of safety, accessibility, environmental or other legitimate public-space concerns, the process should be coordinated with available indoor alternatives and individualized housing plans wherever possible. Extreme-weather responses should have sufficient capacity and hours to protect people from dangerous conditions. Results should be publicly reported—not simply the number of encampments closed, but the number of people connected to shelter, permanent housing, supportive housing and other services. We should also accelerate the supply of deeply affordable and supportive housing. The Region's current affordable-housing plan aims to create or preserve up to 3,500 affordable homes by the end of 2029, with 2,100—60%—intended for very-low- to low-income households. The Region says its previous target of 2,500 homes was exceeded, with affordable-housing production increasing from an historical average of approximately 50 units per year to approximately 500 units per year. My measure of success would therefore be broader than simply moving people out of tents. I would want to see measurable reductions in chronic homelessness, more permanent housing placements, greater supportive-housing capacity, appropriate shelter access during emergencies, and public spaces that remain safe and accessible. We should measure whether people have actually moved toward housing stability—not simply whether an encampment has disappeared from a particular location.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on housing?candidate's own words

Waterloo Region's housing challenge is also a challenge of time, access and supportive services. The Region reported that in February 2024 there were 558 people on the Prioritized Access to Housing Supports PATHS list, and people on that list had spent an average of 1,403 days, about 3 years and 8 months, without permanent and safe housing. The Region's 2024 chronic homelessness plan also reported that chronic homelessness had increased 129 percent since January 2020. Today, the Region states that demand for supportive housing is greater than the available resources and that immediate access is not currently available through PATHS. At the same time, the Region administers more than 10,000 community housing units and programs, demonstrating the importance of protecting and expanding deeply affordable housing rather than relying only on new market construction. There are also practical examples of targeted solutions. The Region opened a 20 bed, 24 hour emergency shelter for women and gender diverse people in Cambridge in 2025, while the 84 Frederick Street project in Kitchener now provides 66 emergency, transitional and supportive housing spaces, including 44 spaces added through renovations and wraparound mental health, addictions, life skills and housing stability supports. In 2026, the Region approved $2.9 million for A Better Tent City's site operations, another $2.8 million for expanded low barrier access and stronger permanent and supportive housing outcomes, and proposed $2.5 million in one time capital funding subject to the 2027 budget process. These figures reinforce my view that we need a continuum that includes prevention before someone becomes homeless, emergency shelter when necessary, low barrier interim options during crises, supportive housing for people who need ongoing assistance, and permanent affordable housing. We should also measure how long people remain homeless, how quickly they move through the system, and whether they remain housed, not simply how many beds or buildings we add.

• Reallocate space on selected streets (e.g. road diets, transit lanes, protected bike lanes)
• Adjust signal timing, curb use, or intersection design
• Prioritize active transportation improvements during routine resurfacing

1. Invest in rapid transit to anchor growth
2. Use transit to shape land use
3. Prioritize maximizing operational efficiency
4. Prioritize expanding coverage area
5. Prioritize lower-cost or incremental transit improvements

Yes, sidewalks should be cleared alongside roads as part of regular winter maintenance

Yes, for specific groups

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on transportation?candidate's own words

Transportation is about much more than moving cars. It is about giving residents realistic choices to reach work, school, health care, shopping, recreation and their communities. Grand River Transit carried 22.1 million riders in 2025 and operates approximately 50 routes with 2,400 stops, while ION achieved 95.3 percent on time performance. Kitchener has also demonstrated that investment in active transportation can produce measurable use, with the Downtown Cycling Grid recording more than 160,000 users in 2025 and approximately 10 kilometres of new and upgraded infrastructure. I want to build on that progress while addressing the gaps that still make walking, cycling and transit difficult or unsafe in some neighbourhoods. In Ward 6, I would focus particularly on connections around Homer Watson Boulevard, Fairway Road, Ottawa Street South, Block Line Road, schools, commercial areas and transit. I also believe winter accessibility needs greater attention. Kitchener currently requires property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours, while the City clears selected sidewalks and all bike lanes within 24 hours after snowfall. For residents who rely on walking, mobility devices or transit, an uncleared sidewalk can effectively become a barrier to the entire transportation system. My approach would be to prioritize safe, accessible connections, improve transit reliability, use existing road space more efficiently, and make transportation investments based on measurable outcomes, accessibility and the needs of residents who have the fewest transportation options.

If you selected "Yes, for specific groups" above, which groups?candidate's own words

Seniors (ex. extend Older Adult Day Pass pilot), People with disabilities, Low-income residents

Please describe one criterion or principle that should not be compromised when making transit investment decisions.candidate's own words

A transit investment should be evaluated not only by how many people it moves, but by who can access it, how reliably they can access it, how much it costs them, and whether it connects them to employment, education, health care, housing and essential services. That includes accessibility for people with disabilities, seniors, families, people without access to a vehicle and residents with lower incomes. A fast transit system that someone cannot afford, physically access or reliably reach is not truly an accessible transportation system.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Accessibility, affordability and reliability

Please name one specific street, corridor, or project where you would prioritize these changes.candidate's own words

I would prioritize Homer Watson Boulevard and its connections to the surrounding neighbourhoods and transit network. Homer Watson is particularly relevant because the Region has previously identified deficiencies in pedestrian and cycling facilities along the corridor and planned improvements including a multi use trail, intersection improvements and pedestrian bridges. The broader objective should be to make Homer Watson safer and more comfortable for people walking, cycling, rolling and accessing transit, while maintaining appropriate vehicle movement. I would also support strengthening the Homer Watson, Ottawa Street South, Block Line Road and Fairway Road connections, particularly where they connect residents to schools, employment, shopping, community facilities and transit. Kitchener has demonstrated that these investments can change how people move. The City's Downtown Cycling Grid added approximately 10 kilometres of new and upgraded infrastructure and recorded more than 160,000 users in 2025. The City has also reported a 164 percent increase in cycling ridership following development of the downtown cycling grid. Kitchener's new Route 1 provides a connection between The Boardwalk and downtown that can be travelled by bicycle in approximately 26 minutes, almost entirely on trails. These examples show why I support designing transportation as a connected network rather than isolated pieces of infrastructure.

Describe one concrete policy, incentive, or decision you would prioritize to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where possible, explain how it balances environmental goals with fiscal responsibility.candidate's own words

I believe sustainability should be built into everyday municipal decision making rather than treated as a separate issue. For Ward 6 and the broader Region, that means protecting our drinking water and aquifers, improving stormwater management, preserving trees and natural areas, preparing for extreme weather, and making it easier for residents to walk, cycle and use public transit. It also means being fiscally responsible. When we build roads, buildings, parks, water infrastructure or community facilities, we should consider the full lifetime cost, including energy, maintenance, repairs and replacement, rather than focusing only on the initial price tag. I support practical climate action that produces measurable benefits for residents, including lower operating costs, healthier neighbourhoods, greater resilience and better public spaces. I also believe municipalities should work collaboratively with the Region, conservation authorities, Indigenous communities, residents, businesses and the provincial and federal governments because environmental challenges do not stop at municipal boundaries. Good sustainability policy should protect the environment while also making our communities more affordable, accessible, resilient and livable for current and future generations.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words

For me, sustainability is fundamentally about responsible long term decision making. Waterloo Region is growing quickly, and the infrastructure we approve today can remain in place for 50 years or more. That means we need to consider climate resilience, energy costs, water protection, transportation and long term maintenance when making today's decisions. Kitchener's TransformWR partnership has established a regional goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, while the City's own climate action planning has identified buildings, transportation and waste as important areas for local action. Climate adaptation is equally important. The Grand River watershed is vulnerable to flooding, extreme rainfall, drought and changing weather patterns, while groundwater and aquifer protection are particularly important in Waterloo Region because groundwater provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of residents. I believe environmental responsibility and fiscal responsibility can reinforce one another when we evaluate the full lifecycle cost of infrastructure, reduce energy consumption, prevent costly stormwater and flooding problems, and build neighbourhoods where residents can walk, cycle and use public transit. My approach would be evidence based and practical: set measurable targets, use incentives where they can accelerate better outcomes, protect natural systems, and make sure taxpayers understand both the upfront cost and the long term financial consequences of major decisions.

1. Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
2. Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
3. Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
4. Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
5. Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

I would support creating a Waterloo Region Local Food Access and Growing Program that makes an increased amount of suitable municipal and regional land available for community gardens, new farmers, food growing projects and low barrier local food markets. I would prioritize neighbourhoods with limited access to affordable fresh food and partner with community organizations, farmers, food banks, schools, universities and colleges to provide growing space, training, food preparation, storage and distribution. I would also support developing a local food hub that could provide shared processing, storage and distribution capacity for smaller farmers and food businesses that cannot afford those facilities independently. This would address food insecurity while also supporting local agriculture and entrepreneurship. It would build on policies the Region already has supporting community gardens and local food systems rather than creating an entirely new bureaucracy. The goal should be to increase access to nutritious food, create opportunities for local producers, reduce food waste and strengthen the economic viability of our local food system.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on food systems?candidate's own words

Food insecurity is ultimately an affordability issue as much as an access issue. Waterloo Region reported that 23 percent of households experienced food insecurity in 2023, while the 2024 nutritious food basket cost a family of four approximately $1,165.65 per month. At the same time, our community is surrounded by productive agricultural land and has an opportunity to strengthen the connection between local producers and local consumers. The Region's planning framework already recognizes that a strong local food system supports farmers, rural communities, healthier communities and economic resilience. I believe we should protect our agricultural land while also making it economically viable to farm, process and sell food locally. Municipalities can contribute through land use planning, community gardens, public land, markets, procurement, food hubs and partnerships with non profits and educational institutions. I also want us to recognize the role of food in dignity. People who are unhoused, living with disabilities, seniors, families and individuals facing financial hardship should not have to choose between food, rent, medication or other basic needs. My approach would be to strengthen the organizations already doing this work, make better use of available public land and resources, support local producers and address the broader affordability pressures that cause food insecurity in the first place.

Other priority not listed abovecandidate's own words

Protect the agricultural land base