As issues related to homelessness spread to more and smaller communities, one local government is trying to take a more proactive approach.
Yesterday. the Mayor of Greater Napanee Terry Richardson formally requested that the board of Prince Edward-Lennox & Addington Social Services (PELASS) put the need for a more comprehensive housing and homelessness strategy on the agenda for their upcoming housing summit.
That summit will be held on October 1st.
The issues facing Napanee relating to homelessness sound very familiar to residents of Belleville and many other local communities.
In the past year alone, they have seen
– over $200,000 in budget impacts
– The issue taking the majority of time for their by-law services workers
– 10% of all fire calls related to the homeless
– Significant legal costs
– Increased training requirements – including hazardous waste disposal
While Belleville and also Hastings County are developing plans to begin to address the problem, we need a more comprehensive and widespread strategy which includes provincial and federal support.
The problems associated with homelessness are not unique to Belleville or Greater Napanee. Without a plan for making things better, things could get much worse in the very near future.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
(PAUL MARTIN)
