Chamber
ontario
Stage
Introduced
This Ontario bill requires the government to create a 10-year strategy to eliminate homelessness, with annual public reporting and an advisory committee.
Key Changes
- Requires the Ontario government to create and maintain a homelessness elimination strategy with a 10-year goal
- Defines 'deeply affordable rental unit' as one where rent does not exceed 30% of a tenant's gross income
- Mandates the creation of a Homelessness Advisory Committee within 90 days of the Act coming into force
- Requires the committee to include people with lived experience of homelessness and housing advocacy representatives
- Requires the Minister to publish an annual public report tracking homelessness data, deaths, housing availability, and re-homelessness rates
- Directs the government to use a housing-first approach and increase funding to the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit program
Gotchas
- The bill sets a vision and objectives but does not include specific funding commitments or legally binding targets, meaning compliance depends largely on government willingness to act.
- The advisory committee has a recommendatory role only — the government is not required to follow its recommendations.
- Annual reports must be made public, but there are no penalties or enforcement mechanisms if the government fails to meet the strategy's objectives.
- The bill is a private member's bill, meaning it was not introduced by the government and may face limited legislative progress without government support.
- The 10-year timeline for eliminating homelessness is aspirational; the bill does not define what 'eliminating homelessness' means in measurable terms.
Who's Affected
- People experiencing homelessness in Ontario
- Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Housing advocacy organizations
- Municipalities responsible for shelter and housing services
- Supportive housing providers and non-profits
- Ontario taxpayers funding housing and social programs
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The bill sets a vision and objectives but does not include specific funding commitments or legally binding targets, meaning compliance depends largely on government willingness to act.
- The advisory committee has a recommendatory role only — the government is not required to follow its recommendations.
- Annual reports must be made public, but there are no penalties or enforcement mechanisms if the government fails to meet the strategy's objectives.
- The bill is a private member's bill, meaning it was not introduced by the government and may face limited legislative progress without government support.
- The 10-year timeline for eliminating homelessness is aspirational; the bill does not define what 'eliminating homelessness' means in measurable terms.
Summary
Bill 28, the Homelessness Ends with Housing Act, 2025, is a private member's bill introduced in the Ontario Legislature. It would require the Ontario government to design, implement, and maintain a strategy aimed at eliminating homelessness within 10 years. The bill sets out specific objectives for that strategy, including building better data systems, creating deeply affordable rental housing, investing in supportive housing, and using a 'housing-first' approach that moves people into permanent housing quickly without conditions. The bill would also require the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to establish a Homelessness Advisory Committee within 90 days of the Act coming into force. This committee, made up of up to 11 members including people with lived experience of homelessness and housing advocates, would make recommendations to the government on how to meet the strategy's goals. The bill was introduced in response to data showing over 80,000 Ontarians were homeless in 2024, with projections suggesting that number could reach 300,000 within a decade if no action is taken. The preamble also notes that inaction is more costly in the long run due to increased healthcare, incarceration, and shelter costs.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses
Recorded Votes
| Date | Description | Yeas | Nays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2025 | Second Reading of Bill 28, An Act establishing a homelessness elimination strategy. | 40 | 63 | Negatived |