THE SHORT VERSION: Addressing homelessness is important, not just for the people caught in it but also for society at large. It also makes fiscal sense since homelessness is expensive for all levels of government. The City cannot tackle this challenge on its own. It needs to engage the great non-profits, agencies, and social enterprises our community is fortunate to have. The City also needs to work hard at engaging other levels of government since they see the largest cost savings in reduced homelessness. We do have a solid five-year plan to address homelessness. Council needs to make sure that this plan is properly resourced and monitored. In addition to the ideas laid out in this plan, Council should consider setting up a risk mitigation fund for landlords, creating better communication strategies for our available resources, and building a public washroom downtown.

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