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Homelessness

Overview

Homelessness in North Bay, not unlike most other Ontario Municipalities, is on the rise and is increasing in complexity. According to the 2020 Point-in-Time (PiT) Homelessness Count, 242 individuals were counted as homeless and completed surveys representing a 90.6% increase over 2018 PiT Count figures.

A gap routinely identified in the literature is the lack of transitional housing in North Bay. As per the Mayor’s Roundtable Report on Mental Health and Addictions (2020), North Bay requires a Transitional Housing Stabilization Centre, which includes among other vital services, short-term transitional housing supports. Transitional housing has been identified as a critical missing component to the City’s housing continuum because this form of housing includes housing support services that ultimately teach individuals life skills aimed at making the transition to other forms of housing easier. Investments in transitional housing are also noted in the Nipissing District Housing and Homelessness Plan (2020a) along with the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre Suswin Report (2020). Invariably, the creation of new transitional housing through the Gateway House, Indigenous Friendship Centre Suswin and Native People of Nipissing Housing Corporation housing projects will start to close this formidable gap.

  • Homelessness response matches the need: individuals are receiving the right response at the right time by the right service provider.
  • The demand for incident responses and acute care resources is reduced relative to the supports provided at the onset of homelessness.
  • Risks to community safety in the area of homelessness are addressed without the use of emergency resources where possible.
  • Services are in place to support homeless to access permanent housing and life stabilization.

Performance Measures: 

  • Point-in-Time Counts/Homeless Enumeration.
  • Emergency shelter data, supply equals demand for shelter.
  • Hospital/ ER data, Local police, emergency medical services, and fire services data.
  • Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS).

The lack of safe affordable housing has also been identified as a major problem facing North Bay. The lack of safe affordable housing has also proven to be a barrier to employment and connecting with the labour market (DNSSAB, 2019d). Housing issues are also exacerbated by lengthy wait-lists for subsidized housing and the unwillingness of landlords to rent units to youth and/or marginalized populations (DNSSAB, 2019c). Housing affordability is further impacting newcomers in North Bay as research shows that this population group is more likely than other residents to spend over 30% of their gross income on housing (Brown & Armenakyan, 2020).

Concerning Indigenous populations, multiple research documents point to the disproportional amount of Indigenous people in the Nipissing District homelessness population. Indigenous Peoples represent approximately 14% of the District’s population, however, make up 42% of the homeless population that was surveyed in the last Point-in-Time Count. These figures are being seen across northeastern Ontario and are believed to be linked to chronic underfunding of housing solutions for Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, discrimination and stigma were noted as the second largest barrier to finding housing for people experiencing homelessness in the Nipissing District.

In addition, the public survey revealed homelessness as the second-highest risk to community safety and well-being in North Bay. Survey respondents noted feeling unsafe due to the (perceived) increase in homelessness in the city and the negative impact it is having on the city and residents. Respondents also mention homelessness relatively frequently in the survey comments and often in conjunction with their comments concerning addictions and mental illness. 

Actions Timelines Output Indicators Status Partners Needed
Review various housing approaches including Housing First to determine the best approach to
implement in North Bay. This would include identifying the existing
housing stock that could be dedicated for the selected
approach.		 1 Year
  • Decreased homelessness.
  • Improved access to housing for the homeless population.
  • Increased linkages to supports and services required by the homeless population.
  
  • Housing and homelessness sector
  • Support and outreach service providers
  • Housing providers (non-profit and private landlords)
  • Others as identified
Establish program documentation
and secure resources		 1 Year  
Implement a pilot program for the
selected community approach.		 1 Year  
Implement a permanent program (if successful). 1-3 Years   

Actions  Timelines  Output Indicators Status Partners Needed
Conduct a needs assessment to determine the amount of transitional and supportive housing
units needed (supply & demand).		 1 Year
  • Decreased homelessness.
  
  • Housing and homelessness sector
Monitor and evaluate the three transitional housing projects
currently under development
(Gateway House, Suswin Village, NPON).		 1 Year 
  • Improved access to housing for the homeless population.
  • Increased linkages to supports and services required by the homeless population.
  
  • Transitional and supportive housing providers
  • City of North Bay
  • District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
  • North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
  • Native People of Nipissing (NPON)
  • Others as identified
Explore innovative funding opportunities and creative partnerships to  support the development of additional transitional and supportive housing units (as needed). 1 Year  

Actions Timelines Output Indicators Status Partners Needed
Conduct a needs assessment to determine the size and types of affordable housing needed. 1 Year
  • Decreased homelessness.
  • Improved access to housing for the homeless population.
  
  • Housing and homelessness sector
  • Housing Providers (non-profit and private landlords)
  • City of North Bay
  • Others as identified
Increase rental subsidies to enhance affordability in the private market. 1-3 Years  
Explore innovative funding opportunities and creative partnerships to support the development of additional affordable housing units (as needed). 1 Year  

Actions Timelines Output Indicators  Status  Partners Needed
Review current outreach programs
in the community (staff, purpose,
target population, hours of
operation, etc.).		 1 Year 
  • Decreased homelessness.
  • Improved access to housing for the homeless population.
  • Increased linkages to supports and services required by the homeless population.
  
  • Housing and homelessness sector
  • Outreach service providers
  • Others as identified
Explore opportunities to further
increase outreach services to meet
identified service gaps.		 1-3 Years   
Coordinate day programming for
homeless and low-income
individuals and families.		 1 Year   

Community Contacts

If you, or anyone you know, are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, services are available by reaching out to the agencies listed below:

  • Low Barrier Shelter – 590 Chippewa Street North Bay, open 8:30pm-8am, 705-358-5901.
  • Crisis Centre North Bay -Four Elms – 1675 Cassells Street, North Bay, (705) 474-1031, open 24 hours, 7 days/week, accepting men, women and children who are homeless and/or fleeing domestic violence.

Or by Calling:

  • DNSSAB - Homelessness Prevention Navigators - (705) 474-2151 Ext. 45588
  • Canadian Mental Health Association, North Bay and District  - (705) 476-4088
  • Crisis Centre North Bay - (705) 474-1031
  • Low Income People Involvement (LIPI) - (705) 472-1337
  • North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (NBIFC) - (705) 472-2811

If you are in crisis or experiencing an emergency, you are reminded to call 911.

Related Information
DNSSAB - Housing and Homelessness Prevention Services Crisis Centre North Bay LIPI - Homelessness Prevention Assistance North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre - Suswin Village Canadian Mental Health Association - Housing Program