Wilmot — Ward 3
1 candidate responded · 0 of 0 section answers were “did not respond”
Tammy Gaudun Gies See responses
- Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
- Increase funding for deeply affordable and supportive housing
- I believe Wilmot needs a community-specific approach rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. The options listed above should all be considered as potential tools, but the right balance needs to reflect the actual needs and scale of our community. Wilmot is different from a large urban centre, and homelessness and housing insecurity can look very different in a rural community. I believe the Region and municipalities should work together with local service providers, non-profits and community organizations to understand who is experiencing housing insecurity in Wilmot, what gaps currently exist, and what solutions will actually help. That could include supportive housing, deeply affordable housing, partnerships with non-profits, appropriate use of public land, and increasing the supply of housing overall. At the same time, encampments need to be managed with compassion and dignity, while recognizing that public spaces also need to remain accessible and safe for the broader community. I don't think simply moving people from one public space to another is a solution. We need to focus on connecting people with appropriate housing and supports while addressing the immediate realities of encampments. For me, the goal should be to move people toward permanent, appropriate housing—not to simply manage homelessness in public spaces. But how we get there should be based on what works for Wilmot, not on a solution designed for a different community.
- Establish and maintain clear minimum standards (sanitation, safety, outreach)
- Require that enforcement actions be linked to the availability of adequate indoor alternatives
- Develop a Wilmot-specific approach that recognizes our rural community, available services and local capacity rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model across the Region.
- Establish clear regional leadership with coordinated municipal roles
- Actively advocate to the province for defined funding triggers and program supports
- 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 strengthening the Region’s existing housing stability approach by creating a clear pathway from encampment outreach and interim supports into permanent or supportive housing, with measurable targets for housing placements and follow-up supports. The Region is already investing significantly in this area, including its transition of A Better Tent City into the regional housing system and its work to move people from homelessness into permanent housing. I would support building on that work rather than simply creating another program. The important piece for me is making sure that outreach, emergency shelter, supportive housing and permanent housing are connected. We should not simply clear an encampment and move people somewhere else without a realistic pathway to stable housing. At the same time, public spaces need to remain safe and accessible, and there need to be clear standards around sanitation, safety and outreach. I would also want this approach to recognize the differences between communities. Wilmot should not be expected to replicate an urban encampment response, but people experiencing housing insecurity in Wilmot should not be invisible within the Regional system either. We should understand the local need, work with local service providers, and determine whether there are appropriate opportunities for supportive or deeply affordable housing within our community. Most importantly, I would want the Region to publicly report outcomes—not just how much money is being spent, but how many people are moving from homelessness to appropriate, stable housing and whether those placements are being sustained
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on housing?candidate's own words
I think we need to stop measuring success by how well we manage the immediate problem and start measuring it by whether people are actually moving toward stable housing. That requires building clear, connected pathways through the housing system—not a series of short-term fixes that leave people cycling between shelters, temporary housing and the street. I would support investments that address the gaps between those stages and create a realistic path to long-term stability. For me, the question isn't simply, “Where do we put someone tonight?” It’s, “What does this person need to get to a place where they no longer need the system?”
On the ballot but have not responded to survey (2)
- Harvir Sidhu
- Kevin Sundberg
Full candidate list: CBC Waterloo Region election coverage ↗