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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · May 1

Ontario has reintroduced Bill 6, which will punish encampments even though people have nowhere else to go. That's why we've formed the Encampment Justice Coalition. We're asking Ontario to rescind Bill 6 and commit to housing — not punishment. Read more: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · May 1

Today, I released a letter, signed by 67 organizations working across Ontario, asking the Ford government to rescind Bill 6. We can't adopt Trumpian policies to punish encampments; people need proven solutions — especially housing. Read our letter: tinyurl.com/EJC-Bill6

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Erin Caton @caton.bsky.social · Feb 27

Caton said the coalition wants “a firm commitment from all parties that they will not strip away the rights of our most vulnerable residents, and instead fund and build supportive, accessible housing that meets the needs of every community member.”
www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/coalition-ag...

Coalition against clearing encampments

GUELPH – Elected officials and community members from across Ontario have formed a coalition to advocate for homeless people and campaigned to 2025 provincial election candidates to do the same. The ...

www.wellingtonadvertiser.com

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 28

To everyone who participated in our campaign, and who voted for housing and human rights, thank you. Together, we made an impact!

While we will take a break, our work isn't over. But together, we will continue to ensure dignity and human rights for all Ontarians, regardless of their housing status!

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 27

Thanks to you, our campaign has:

⊛ Sent 1,469 e-mails to candidates
⊛ Generated over 20 news hits
⊛ Pressured three of the four major parties — the NDP, Greens, and Liberals — to reject the criminalization of homeless people in Ontario.

All that’s left now is to vote.

Make yours count!

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 26

Where do the four parties stand on homelessness? Check out our handy graphic!

There is still one party — the Ontario PC Party — who have committed to making homelessness a crime in public spaces.

You can still let them know they can and should change their mind:

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Cllr Lukas Oakley @lukasjoakley.bsky.social · Feb 24

This is immensely disappointing that the Ontario PC's have recommitted to violating the rights of homeless people and criminalizing homelessness. We must put public pressure on the PC's to recognize the rights of homeless people and commit to an ethical Housing-First approach.

Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 24

The Ontario PC platform has been released: static.ontariopc.ca/uploads/2025...

They have committed to re-tabling the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime in Ontario.

Every other party understands that the solution to homelessness is housing — not criminalization.

The graphics reads:
The Ontario PC Party’s platform has stated that it intends to “clean up our streets by clearing out encampments.” They intend to do this by bringing back and passing the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime.

They are the only political party in Ontario that has committed to criminalizing homelessness in the province.

Every other party — the NDP, Greens, and Liberals — has said that the solution to homelessness is housing.

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · Feb 24

This is important: A prospective Ford government has signalled its intention to expand prisons and put homeless people in jail rather than build the housing that people need and that is their fundamental right.

I don't want a province that makes people homeless then throws them in prison.

Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 24

The Ontario PC platform has been released: static.ontariopc.ca/uploads/2025...

They have committed to re-tabling the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime in Ontario.

Every other party understands that the solution to homelessness is housing — not criminalization.

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 24

Let's pressure them to change their minds! Ontarians want a solution to the housing and homelessness crisis — not to throw people in jail.

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 24

The Ontario PC platform has been released: static.ontariopc.ca/uploads/2025...

They have committed to re-tabling the Safer Municipalities Act, which makes being homeless in public a crime in Ontario.

Every other party understands that the solution to homelessness is housing — not criminalization.

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 22

Meanwhile, here is the Ontario PC Party's response to rejecting the use of the Notwithstanding Clause to clear encampments and upholding homeless people's Charter rights ...

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 22

Alongside the NDP, and the Green Party's rejection of "criminalizing homelessness," the Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie has said "The answer to homelessness is housing, not legal loopholes." Three of the four major parties now agree. www.qpbriefing.com/news/crombie...

Crombie rejects use of notwithstanding clause to address homeless encampments

“With respect to the notwithstanding clause, no, I do not support it in that instance,” Crombie said. “We need a plan for people who are homeless. We need somewhere to put them.”

www.qpbriefing.com

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 21

OCRHP in the news! “We have a mission to protect the human rights of homeless individuals in Ontario by opposing the use of the notwithstanding clause to force them out of encampments without reasonable and supportive alternatives.” www.burlingtontoday.com/local-news/i...

‘It is shameful,’ Ontario councillors oppose encampment tear downs without solutions

The notwithstanding clause would allow the provincial government to override the rights of Ontario’s homeless

www.burlingtontoday.com

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · Feb 19

One major reason why your property taxes keep increasing is because the taxes you already pay to the province aren't going back into shelter/housing. Ontario remains the only province that forces municipalities to cost share homeless programs, all while enacting policies that increase homelessness.

Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

Homelessness has increased by 49% in Ontario since 2017. But the provincial government hasn't paid their fair share to address homelessness. Because Ontario isn't spending what it should, municipalities have had to increase their spending on homelessness — which comes from your property taxes. /3

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Cllr Lukas Oakley @lukasjoakley.bsky.social · Feb 20

I encourage members of our community to join @ocrhp.bsky.social in making this a top priority election issue and to reach out to our local candidates on it. Check out www.homelessrights.ca/get-involved on how you can help.

Get Involved

www.homelessrights.ca

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Cllr Lukas Oakley @lukasjoakley.bsky.social · Feb 20

Thank you to our local media for covering this important issue. We desperately need a Housing-First approach to homelessness and criminalizing those in need is both cruel and ineffective.

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Erin Caton @caton.bsky.social · Feb 19

Municipalities are footing the bill for provincial inaction on homelessness and affordable housing. Their policies and funding cuts drive up property taxes and put more people on the brink of precarious housing. We need a change.

Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

🧵 Homelessness is out of control in Ontario. And a lot of that is because of a lack of investment in the solution to homelessness: affordable housing. But just what is Ontario doing to address the homelessness crisis? /1

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

When the province announced $75.5 million to "end encampments" in December, only $44.5 million of this was new funding. This is a mere 1% increase in homelessness funding for the fiscal year.

We deserve a government who will do what it takes to end homelessness: homelessrights.ca/get-involved

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

Homelessness has increased by 49% in Ontario since 2017. But the provincial government hasn't paid their fair share to address homelessness. Because Ontario isn't spending what it should, municipalities have had to increase their spending on homelessness — which comes from your property taxes. /3

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

A recent report from Maytree Canada showed that the Ontario government is spending less on affordable housing than in 2013, and spending more on managing homelessness — but not enough. /2

maytree.com/wp-content/u...

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

🧵 Homelessness is out of control in Ontario. And a lot of that is because of a lack of investment in the solution to homelessness: affordable housing. But just what is Ontario doing to address the homelessness crisis? /1

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 19

Let your local candidates know that the human rights of homeless people are important to you!

Write to them now: homelessrights.ca/get-involved

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Reposted by Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP)

Cathy Crowe, C.M. 🍁 @cathycrowe.bsky.social · Feb 18

@dianacmcnally.bsky.social built a letter-writing campaign to pressure local candidates to prioritize affordable housing, reject the use of the Notwithstanding Clause to clear encampments, and take a human rights approach to homelessness. 🙏🗳️

Please sign here:

homelessrights.ca/get-involved

Get Involved

homelessrights.ca

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 18

Last night, @ontarioliberal.bsky.social @bonniecrombie.bsky.social criticized invoking the Notwithstanding Clause against homeless people. She stopped short of refusing its use altogether. The Liberal platform includes:

- Doubling ODSP/OW
- Phased-in rent controls
- An emergency fund for renters

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Ontario Coalition for the Rights of Homeless People (OCRHP) @ocrhp.bsky.social · Feb 18

Last night, @ontariogreens.bsky.social leader @mikeschreiner.bsky.social both supported the NDP's encampment plan and criticized the PC's criminalization of homelessness. The Green's platform includes:

- 60K supportive homes
- 250K non-profit homes
- Modular housing
- ⬆️ funding for women's shelters

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