Unhoused individuals in Thunder Bay, Ontario, are encountering heightened animosity as homelessness and housing affordability take center stage in the lead-up to the municipal election on Monday, as per staff at a local homeless shelter. “We’ve observed an uptick in negative online discussions about unhoused individuals. Some encampment residents have reported instances of people driving by and hurling garbage at them,” stated Champagne Thomson, Shelter House’s development manager.
Thomson highlighted the escalating tensions in an already strained situation, noting that Shelter House has been consistently operating at full capacity for the past six months. The city council designated homelessness as a humanitarian crisis in February and endorsed a comprehensive 10-part Enhanced Encampment Response plan in 2024. Currently, approximately 1,400 individuals are on the waitlist for social housing. According to the city’s latest point-in-time count from last fall, 652 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness, although advocates suggest the actual number could be twice as high.
Thunder Bay has pledged to adopt a human rights-centered approach to homelessness, emphasizing providing assistance to individuals living in encampments rather than enforcing their displacement. Brendan Carlin, the executive director of Shelter House, expressed his desire for this approach to persist under the upcoming mayor and council, contrasting with other jurisdictions that have called for dismantling tent communities. Carlin emphasized that removing tents or encampments does not eradicate homelessness; rather, it disperses individuals throughout the city, including parks.
Several respondents to a recent informal survey conducted by CBC Thunder Bay indicated homelessness and encampments as their primary concern ahead of the municipal election, with 316 out of 592 survey participants ranking it as their top issue. Brynn Green, a respondent and a master of education program student at Lakehead University, emphasized the growing impact of housing-related challenges on the community. Green commended initiatives like the temporary shelter village in Alloy Place, featuring 80 sleeping cabins for those experiencing homelessness.
Green underscored the necessity for sustainable solutions beyond temporary fixes, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of homelessness. Essential components include mental health services, low-income housing, and preventative measures to ensure future generations do not face similar challenges. Community organizations like People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment (PACE) echoed similar concerns, with their clients identifying homelessness and encampments, cost of living, racism, disability issues, and public transit as key issues.
NorWest Community Health Centres is facilitating free transportation services to Shelter House for clients to vote early, with provisions for verifying the identities of those lacking permanent addresses. Moreover, transportation will be available on Election Day for McKellar Ward residents to access the CLE polling station. The initiative aims to ensure that individuals accessing these services have a voice in decision-making processes. As the municipal election approaches, individuals are encouraged to research candidates thoroughly before casting their votes, with advance polls and online voting options already open.
