The decision by Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin’s constituency office staff to refer people in need of shelter to a private, for-profit encampment landed under the Queen’s Park microscope this week.
During Question Period on April 15, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky raised the matter that was first reported by Village Media.
“Shockingly, instead of working to resolve this province’s homelessness crisis, the member for (Barrie-Innisfil) has started referring people to this for-profit encampment,” said Gretzky, who also serves as poverty and homelessness reduction critic for the official Opposition NDP. “My question to the premier is this: Is he going to start counting tents as part of their affordable-housing numbers?
"This for-profit encampment is targeted toward people who are on (Ontario Works) or (Ontario Disability Support Program) because the programs don’t even cover the cost of rent," Gretzky added. "This (Progressive) Conservative government has fuelled a housing and affordability crisis and now they seem to be endorsing exploitation.”
Khanjin, who also serves as Ontario’s minister of the environment, conservation and parks, has steadfastly maintained she was unaware staff were making the referrals. When asked about the issue earlier this month, she said “we’re looking into it” and her office is “changing practices” to ensure something similar doesn’t happen again.
With Khanjin sitting a row back on the government benches, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra responded to Gretzky by suggesting Ontario recently made significant investments in homelessness prevention, and accused the New Democrats of being “irrelevant” and “ignoring what the people of the province need.”
“What we are doing across the province is restoring, rehabilitating and renovating our affordable-housing stock,” he said. “You know why? Because we were left with an infrastructure deficit. We will continue to support those who want help. We will leave no one behind. That is our goal, each and every day.”
The property in question is located on the 25th Sideroad in Innisfil. It first came to Village Media’s attention through a tip about a posting on Kijiji titled “HELP for people in Homeless Tent encampment Private Property.”
That advertisement, which appears to have since been removed from the website, was asking for $500, but it didn’t specify whether the amount sought was a flat rate or monthly rent. With that payment came permission for the unsheltered to “set up your tents” on the cottage property.
The site is billed as having a shared kitchen, community fridge, bathroom and hookup to electricity. The description also promotes “job opportunities” and says tenants can walk to the nearby beach.
To apply, prospective tenants needed to provide their full names, some personal information and confirmation they’re receiving Ontario Works.
Barrie Homelessness and Housing Justice Network spokesperson Jennifer van Gennip has called the private encampment plan “well-meaning” but “pretty exploitative of people in a very vulnerable position.”
“What we really need from our elected officials are policies that move us toward a realization of housing as a human right with more investments in deeply affordable housing so everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home," said van Gennip.
