Why isn't the City doing more to address homelessness?

The City is trying to address the challenges in the Downtown in order to improve the prospects for businesses and the livability for residents, while serving the needs of the city’s most vulnerable residents, including the unsheltered, in a compassionate way. Many of the challenges fall under the jurisdiction and mandate of the senior levels of government. Notwithstanding, the City’s Downtown Livability Strategy includes a number of actions which have been operationalized under existing City Department budgets and work programs.

In order for the City to move forward, significant, guaranteed senior government funding is required on a long-term basis as the issues facing the Downtown are beyond the jurisdiction, mandate and fiscal capacity of the City.