George Trihenea

City/Township Council · Kitchener

All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

Housing & Homelessness

How should municipalities and the Region balance providing permanent housing with the management of encampments in public spaces?select up to 3 per part

A. Pathways to permanent housing

Prioritize rapid acquisition or conversion of existing buildings
Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing

B. Interim management of encampments

Establish and maintain clear minimum standards (sanitation, safety, outreach)
Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels
Require that enforcement actions be linked to the availability of adequate indoor alternatives

C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government

Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
Publish ongoing performance metrics (e.g. housing placements, shelter bed access)

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

I would focus on getting existing solutions working. Kitchener already has a transitional housing site on Victoria Street waiting for provincial funding to operate. I would work with our partners to get that capacity open, while prioritizing health, safety, outreach and pathways to permanent housing. At the end of the day, these are people in our community who deserve dignity, safety and a real opportunity to rebuild their lives. We need to meet people where they are and help them move toward stability.

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

Many hands make light work. We need to get everyone involved — developers, non-profits and, importantly, everyday homeowners. If you have an unfinished basement or room for a granny suite, City Hall should make it easier to turn that space into a legal rental. That means cutting unnecessary red tape, speeding up approvals and helping homeowners navigate the process and required infrastructure for construction to start. I'm not asking homeowners to solve Kitchener's housing shortage. I'm saying City Hall should make it easier for those who want to help to actually do it. Thousands of homeowners each adding one unit can make a real difference. That's the kind of practical, bottom-up solution I want to bring to City Hall.