Waterloo Region to receive share of federal funding to fight homelessness

The Weber Street encampment in Kitchener in November 2024.

The Waterloo Region will soon be getting some financial help to deal with homelessness issues.

On Wednesday, the federal government announced nine municipalities in Ontario have signed agreements to support people in their communities. The communities include Region of Waterloo, Hamilton, Niagara, Durham, Toronto, Peel, Ottawa and Sudbury. Two Saskatchewan cities, Regina and Saskatoon, will also receive funding.

The government has said they will be providing a total of more than $91.5 million over two years. The municipalities are expected to match the federal funding.

“Funding will support the implementation of cities’ Community Encampment Response Plans and immediately provide additional support to people living without homes. Each plan is tailored to the specific needs of a community. A broad range of activities will be supported across these agreements, including creating new shelter spaces, increasing transitional housing options, and providing case management services to help people find and keep permanent housing,” a news release reads, in part.

The announcement comes after the region’s latest Point-In-Time report indicated at least 2,371 people in Waterloo Region were experiencing homelessness. That number had more than doubled since the last reported number in 2021.

Regional council approved a $10.2 million investment for the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness back in February 2024.