85 Organizations Across Ontario Stand Against Punishing Encampments

85 organizations working across communities in Ontario stand united as the newly formed Encampment Justice Coalition. Together, they have published an open letter to the Premier asking his government to rescind Bill 6, the Safer Municipalities Act, and commit to human rights-compliant, evidence-based, and proven solutions — especially safe, affordable housing — to address Ontario’s encampment crisis.

The Coalition represents an unusual intersection of organizations with expertise in housing, homelessness, health care, drug policy, disability justice, human rights, settlement, migrant justice, public transit, and Canadian law. Within the scope of their expertise, they are united in their opposition to Bill 6. The approach of the Bill, which is based on failed U.S. policy, punishes encampment residents and deprioritizes housing as a solution in favour of coercive drug treatment and jail.

The Coalition affirms that jails and coercive drug treatment do not solve homelessness — housing does. Moreover, the Coalition questions importing disastrous American policies at a time when Ontario must define itself from America and stand united against the economic threat of American tariffs.

These tariffs threaten to make more Ontarians homeless, and punishing encampments will only exacerbate this — both directly, but also indirectly, as the associated policing and prison costs will become an untenable burden on taxpayers.

The Coalition calls on the Premier to stand with all Ontarians, including encampment residents, by prioritizing care, not punishment, and investing in the solutions to homelessness that are proven to work. The Coalition also invites the Premier and his government to meet and discuss positive solutions with its representatives.

Quotes:

“Premier Ford’s decision to treat unhoused people as criminals is not only discriminatory, and a violation of human rights, it is a foolhardy policy. Countless studies have shown incarcerating people neither solves homelessness nor restores the human right to housing. It does however, balloon budgets and create a displacement cycle. Premier Ford should brush up on human rights law and start meeting his obligations: find long term, affordable secure housing for the thousands who need it across the province.” — Leilani Farha, Global Director, The Shift

“Bill 6 criminalizes unhoused people and those living in poverty, disproportionately harming already marginalized communities, including Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities, women and gender diverse populations, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities. Rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness through rights-based solutions that uphold dignity and autonomy, it will deepen the crisis.” — Harini Sivalingam Director, Equality Program, Canadian Civil Liberties Association

“Bill 6 is not only a cruel and ineffective response to homelessness — it’s a direct attack on the survival of women and gender-diverse people who are already facing extreme violence, poverty, and systemic discrimination on the streets. This legislation doesn’t make communities safer; it makes them more dangerous for those with the fewest protections. Criminalizing homelessness, especially in the absence of adequate safe shelter or harm reduction supports, will push more women into hiding, into unsafe situations, and further away from help.” — Stefania Seccia, Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network

“The Ford Government has chosen to undermine and attack the rights of all Ontarians through Bill 6. Disabled People in Ontario already face rampant criminalization, further disablement and death throughout the Ontario justice system, particularly those among our communities who are unhoused. This legislation only furthers the violence faced by unhoused disabled people—opening the door to mass incarceration and institutionalization. Without any action to raise social assistance rates and create accessible, affordable housing, this government has chosen instead to violently attack already precarious, disabled communities across this Province.” — Brad Evoy, Disability Justice Network of Ontario

“Warehousing people in jails is the most expensive, least effective option, and a clear indicator of government-facilitated failure, not success. The Safer Municipalities Act is unsafe, unhealthy, and unwelcome. We encourage governments to engage with Ontario’s leaders rather than polls, pundits, and Trump-style partisan politics. The experience and expertise exists right here in Ontario to the benefit of all taxpayers. No one would recommend this Act as a real solution to the dual humanitarian tragedies that, since the 2018 election, have killed more than 24,000 people by overdose alone, and left more than 80,000 folks without housing across Ontario.” — Michael Parkinson, Drug Strategy Network of Ontario

“Bill 6 does nothing to solve Ontario’s homelessness crisis. Municipalities have asked for long-term housing solutions and instead have been met with short sighted, harmful, and ineffective enforcement measures that target the most vulnerable in our communities. Encampment residents are rights holders that deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not heavily policed and swept out of sight under the guise of public safety.” — Ashley Schuitema, Executive Director of Waterloo Region Community Legal Services