Ontario is taking steps in the right direction; Finding homes for the homeless

BY KAHA G. – 15 YEARS OLD

In one of my articles, I talked about crazy house prices in Toronto, and how they should create affordable housing for everyone. However, wouldn’t everyone include the asylum seekers (a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another)?

Let’s assess the situation. Around July 12^th -13^th, asylum seekers have been coming to Toronto to escape from their countries to start a new life only to be on the streets. Some refugees have been helped by the Canada – Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) Planning Allocations, have assisted them in affording Toronto rents.

Siu Mee, the Executive Director of Street Haven (an emergency shelter that gives women a safe space to sleep), states “The ones that were here six months ago, or four months ago cannot move out because there is no benefit to help them leave the shelter and move into their own home.”

According to News Ontario, the Ontario government is investing another $42 million through the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) program to support the City of Toronto and other impacted municipalities across the province in providing urgent assistance to a rapidly growing number of asylum claimants and other at-risk populations.

“This investment will help refugee claimants and unhoused people move into permanent, stable housing so they can rebuild their lives. It will relieve the pressure on Toronto’s shelter system and the many generous churches, community organizations and regular Torontonians who have stepped up to support asylum seekers,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “All levels of government have a role to play in supporting asylum seekers. The Ontario government is stepping up and I invite the federal government to join us as well.”

In summary, the investment by the Ontario government is a positive change towards finding long-term housing for asylum claimants and will play a vital role in rebuilding their lives. It is a step in the right direction, and we hope that it will inspire more positive changes to come.