Federal government signs deal with Waterloo Region to house homeless

The federal government signed deals with nine municipalities across Ontario, including Waterloo Region to address the ongoing homelessness crisis.

The agreements are worth a combined $91 million over two years and are meant to support the municipalities’ encampment response plans. Those plans include creating new shelter spaces and increasing transitional housing options.

Something that is desperately needed as the region grapples with how to foot the bills on housing people. Councillors and advocates in the region have sounded the alarm about the need for more options.

During the 2025 budget process, the region estimated a total of $345 million in funding is needed between 2025 and 2030 to support the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

The region recently released a Point-In-Time (PIT) Count that showed 2,371 individuals were experiencing homelessness in the area. This money from the highest government level will ensure Waterloo Region can start getting people off the streets.

Cities Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara and Sudbury and regions like Durham, Peel, York and Waterloo signed deals, as did Saskatoon, Sask. and Regina.

Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said deals have also been reached with all other provinces and territories, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.

He said the federal government couldn’t sign provincial partnerships with Ontario and Saskatchewan because those provinces wouldn’t match the federal government’s contributions.

With files from The Canadian Press.