Kitchener — Ward 6

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.

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

I believe that, going forward, all city owned building should be built with affordable housing as a part of the design.

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

I have a larger article about housing on my website! https://votebrooklin.ca/how-city-council-can-reduce-house-prices/