Councillors dissect women's homelessness during YWCA Cambridge panel discussion

With zero emergency shelter beds in the city designated for women, the YWCA Cambridge is on a mission to address the dire circumstances many are facing in the community.

During a panel discussion on the topic this week that included Cambridge city councillors Scott Hamilton, Sheri Roberts and Ross Earnshaw, regional councillor Pam Wolf, Citizens of Cambridge advocate Bob Howison and Mayor of North Dumfries Sue Foxton, the public was able to hear just how critical the situation is and what could potentially be done to rectify it.

And while passing political motions can sometimes be like pulling teeth in the eyes of the public, Wolf refused to use red tape as an excuse for inaction.

"I think it's important for us to start small, rather than not start at all," Wolf said.

"Too often we're looking for the perfect large project which takes years and many millions to fund. I would like to see us buy or rent a few houses to accommodate the different needs of women who find themselves without a home."

Wolf said there are already places on city and regional land that could be looked at for such purposes.

Properties being bought up along the projected LRT route could be options for the next 10 years until the land is needed, Wolf said, although she hopes the provincial and federal government begins to invest in building affordable housing and starts actively funding rent subsidies and mental health programs in the meantime.

She also points to a motion she brought forward and was passed at regional council to call on the provincial government to raise Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability and Support Program, and to support the federal government in guaranteeing basic income.

From an organizational perspective, the YWCA Cambridge will have a proposal for a women's shelter in the city go before regional council next week in search of funding approval.

Part of the proposal includes $1.4 million for ongoing operating funding for a 24-hour-a-day, seven day a week, 20-bed responsive space.

The money would help fund six full-time shelter staff, eight part-time staff and one full time staff for food services, a mental health and addictions counsellor, programming and transition support, outreach and transition support, and a manager.

In the community, one of the biggest issues surrounding women is that of hidden homelessness, the YWCA has stated.

Often times women fail to come forward or report their situation due to fears of violence, family situations involving children or feelings of shame.

According to the Women’s National Homelessness and Housing Network, seven per cent of women will experience hidden homelessness in their lives, which is equal to 5,089 who are or have experienced it in Cambridge.

It's one of the first things that needs to be addressed when it comes to making tangible changes, Ward 7 councillor Scott Hamilton said.

"I think an important component to keep in mind here are the politics of visibility," Hamilton said.

"Keeping women, gender-diverse persons visible in terms of numbers and visible representation. Hidden homelessness is omitted from these surveys and metrics that many municipalities do. There's an old expression that if you can't be counted, then you won't count. We have to find a way to count the hidden homelessness."

Ward 5 councillor Sheri Roberts said a one-size-fits-all mentality can't be taken as there are individual diverse needs people have.

"Each situation is so unique and you need to be mindful of those needs," Roberts said.

"Having equity as an afterthought means it's too late. We need to start from day one when were planning. We need to take into account the diverse needs within the women's homeless community."

When the question was raised of why the issue hasn't been addressed already and the resistance to change among some in the community, Hamilton admitted it can be a problem in the city, whether it be in regards to housing, transportation or homelessness. 

"Everybody wants change but nobody wants to make any changes, that's a problem that comes up sometimes," Hamilton said.

"It's our job as politicians and residents to embrace change and that we shouldn't be scared of it."

Hamilton says there's still a stigma around homelessness and affordable housing that has to be overcome. When talks of shelters or social services arise, it can often be met with backlash.

"Some people think these people must have made bad choices or are morally bad," he said.

"People sometimes think if you put a shelter near me, that's going to create more homelessness or ruin my neighbourhood. I've never quite agreed with that logic. If you put a hospital somewhere, that doesn't increase cancer in your community, it just provides a place for people who are experiencing that difficulty to go and get healed. Flipping that stigma is essential."

A second panel discussion in partnership with Waterloo Region Community Foundation and Porchlight Addiction and Counselling Services will be held on March 7.