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

Lindsay Manary

Regional Council · Region of Waterloo

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes Water
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
  • Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing
  • I believe we should be listening to various community partners who have provided options that have worked in various other municipalities and around the world and try to incorporate some of those solutions that have been proven effective elsewhere
B. Interim management of encampments
  • Expand the hours and capacity of extreme-weather shelter protections beyond current levels
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
  • Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
  • Assign clear municipal responsibility for public-space management
  • 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 support a Housing First & Supportive Operations policy that redirects funds from encampment enforcement into long‑term operating support for supportive housing. We know that supportive housing is the most affordable option and it is a solution that works. Living on the street in a tent is not a dignified way to live, spending money on litigation when an affordable option of supportive housing exists and works does not make sense to me. I am specifically thinking of the Working Centre's "Making Home" project right across from the encampment on Victoria Street that sat empty because it had no operating funds available. The Region spent and continues to spend money on litigation. I feel that money would have been better directed to operational funds and would have started to solve the encampment issue.