Strategic Priority 1 of the CSWBP is to develop a unified and community system approach to end homelessness. Homelessness remains a misunderstood issue locally, nationally, and globally. There are approximately 200 individuals in Timmins experiencing homelessness (BNL February 2023). Homelessness can result from compounding and/or individual factors such as mental health, job loss, domestic violence, and more.
We must also recognize as a community that specific groups experience homelessness, as well as other forms of social exclusion, at a higher rate than the general population. In Timmins, more than half of our homeless population is Indigenous. This will require particular interventions at the policy, support, and housing levels to account for these unique circumstances.
To enable a true and sustained end to homelessness, we need to look at strategic prevention.
Lead Action Table:
Community Advisory Board (CAB) acts as an advisory body to the community entity for Timmins, represented by the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB). The CAB provides input on service planning, funding allocations, and the coordination of the homelessness services system.
Table Composition:
- City of Timmins employee
- Representative(s) of the health sector
- Representative(s) of the addiction and mental health sector
- Representative(s) of the community/social services sector
- Person(s) who represents an entity that provides custodial services to children/youth
- Representative(s) of Nishnawbe Aski Nation
- A person who represents a community proactive program
- A person who represents the vulnerable population
- Community members
- Person(s) who represent community food programs
- Person(s) who represent the police service board
- A person who represents Service Canada
- A person who represents the Royal Canadian Legion
Targeted Outcomes:
- Increase in residents having the support they need to access and maintain housing.
- Increase in prevention through service coordination.
- Implementation of a homelessness report card that measures the number of people on the street, in shelters, length of stay, and turnover,
- Increase in community-wide education and awareness regarding homelessness and poverty