At any given time in London, Ont., there are roughly 1,700 to 2,100 people confirmed to be experiencing homelessness. Of those, about 600 are considered “high acuity,” meaning they require a high level of supports. Meanwhile, the number of encampments in the city nearly […]
Tag: LdnOnt
Council urged to support permanent funding for public washrooms downtown – CTV News [2024-01-18]
Coun. Skylar Franke said a movement towards ‘needs-based budgeting’ at city hall must include support for basic human needs like public washrooms. “A lot of places require that you purchase something like a coffee or a bagel to use their washrooms and that’s not […]
How a steady place to live helped this Londoner find sobriety and meaningful work – CBC News [2024-01-16]
For a decade, Korrine MacCormick didn’t have a steady place to live. She couch surfed, spent time in jail, and bounced between homeless shelters and living on the streets of London and Stratford. She was using drugs and getting into trouble, watching some people […]
Doctor points to gaps in London area child and youth mental health care – CBC News [2023-11-27]
A doctor in Alymer, Ont., is speaking out after facing barriers to get outpatient mental health care for a 12-year-old patient identified as being at high risk for self-harm. Dr. Michael Fernando is a general practitioner who took over as the family doctor for […]
Crisis worker with London Children’s Aid urges province to step in as agency places kids in hotels – CBC News [2023-11-15]
A crisis intervention specialist with the London, Ont. branch of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) says there are currently no beds available for some of the city’s most vulnerable youth. Pre-existing gaps in services have only grown wider in the city and across the […]
SafeSpace London’s landlord has message for property owners considering homeless shelters as tenants – CTV News [2023-11-01]
“Do it. This will help us find a longterm solution [to homelessness],” urged Rashad Ayyash when asked what he would tell other property owners considering homeless shelters or frontline agencies as tenants. Ayyash and his business partners are proud to be landlords for SafeSpace […]
One-of-a-kind Pride Library at Western welcomes students and the public back – CBC News [2023-10-25]
The main library at Western University isn’t known for its purple sofas and funky art work. But they’re there, at the back on the main floor, inside a unique library space that’s reopened after a four-year hiatus. The Pride Library, which houses thousands of […]
New apartments opening for homeless people with ‘complex health needs’ – CBC News [2023-10-11]
People who have nowhere to live and are dealing with complex health needs will now have 25 supportive housing units where they stay so they don’t end up on the street. The London Health Sciences Centre and London Cares have partnered to offer the […]
To soothe anxiety around scattering the ashes of loved ones, London created a space for it – CBC News [2023-09-21]
The City of London has created a dedicated space for mourners to scatter ashes of their late friends and family at the Riverside boat launch along the Thames River. In a news released published Wednesday, city officials said the space, located in the Wonderland […]
Protests over school polices on gender identity met with counter-demonstrations in London, Ont. – Global News [2023-09-20]
More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) in London, Ont., on Wednesday over school policies on gender identity. The “1MillionMarch4Children” saw demonstrations held across the country on Sept. 20th, as organizer Our Duty Canada claimed they’re “advocating for […]
Forest City Film Festival announces lineup with spotlight on mental health and homelessness – CBC News [2023-09-14]
The lineup has been announced for this year’s Forest City Film Festival (FCFF) in London, Ont., with several films focusing on social issues that hit close to home. The local film festival runs from Oct. 14 to 22, showcasing about 70 films, including features, […]
Agencies urge city for continued security at outreach spaces facing escalating violence – CBC News [2023-09-14]
A number of agencies offering services to those experiencing homelessness in London, Ont., are urging city council to continue funding security at two key downtown outreach and resting spaces. In July, council approved $200,000 out of a request for $374,000 to go toward security […]
If Trudeau wants to fix housing, London is a good place to start – CBC News [2023-09-14]
If you wanted to solve Canada’s housing problem, the city of London, Ont. — where Liberal MPs are meeting this week ahead of Parliament’s fall sitting — would be a good place to start. “The challenges facing London are indicative of some of the […]
‘I almost died in there’: Former inmates of London, Ont. detention centre speak out – CTV News [2023-09-13]
A court review of a $33 million class action settlement for former inmates of the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) and their families was held in London, Ont. on Wednesday. During his address to the court, Michael Peerless described the EMDC as overcrowded, unsanitary, and […]
Trudeau announces $74M to help London, Ont., build 2,000 new homes – CBC News [2023-09-13]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that London, Ont., is the first city in Canada to reach a deal with his government under the Housing Accelerator Fund. He says the deal will create 2,000 new homes in the city over three years. “This landmark agreement […]
‘Hate’ campaign seemingly targets youngest and most impressionable in our community – CTV News [2023-09-07]
Ian MacLean says his wife was taking a pleasant morning walk with their dog, Charley, when she was confronted with troubling messages in front of Trafalgar Public School on Wednesday morning; the first day of school. “She came across some trans hate messages both […]
Just four organizations bid to operate London’s first homeless hubs – CTV News [2023-09-06]
Council’s options may be limited when they choose locations and lead agencies to operate the first low-barrier service hubs for Londoners experiencing homelessness. According to a publicly available list posted on city hall’s Bids and Tenders website, nine organizations participated in a Request for […]
Ontario cities watching as London rolls out first-of-its-kind homeless response – CBC News [2023-08-23]
Municipal leaders dedicated the final day of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) conference to discuss collaborative solutions to homelessness as a housing crisis continues across the province. AMO looked to its host London, along with Kingston — two cities that are taking the […]
Fail fast— make corrections— move forward: Mayor Morgan’s unvarnished take on rollout of homelessness strategy – CTV News [2023-08-23]
Some frank talk by London Mayor Josh Morgan may be aimed at managing community expectations for London’s upcoming Whole of Community Response to Homelessness ahead of a series of public meetings. On Wednesday, Morgan co-hosted a session in front of the Association of Municipalities […]
‘Sorry, pardon me’: Is London, Ont. really that polite? – CTV News [2023-08-21]
London may be known for green trees and, lately, seemingly endless road construction, but now it has another claim to fame. A new nationwide survey has found Londoners are among the most polite in the nation, with the Forest City just squeaking into the […]
Local hospital staff frequently deal with violent, aggressive patients, new numbers show – CBC News [2023-08-08]
She’s only been on the job for two years, but London registered nurse Lannie Seddon has already been punched in the head by a patient. She’s one of many hospital workers who face violence and aggression at work on a regular basis — something […]
Build and fund a drug rehab centre in London, mayor tells premier – CBC News [2023-07-25]
London should be the first city in Ontario to get any newly-built publicly-funded addiction rehab facilities, Mayor Josh Morgan says. “Treatment is health care, and so it’s not something the city can do. This is a fully provincial responsibility and only the province can […]
Council endorses homeless hub plan, despite concerns about cost and capacity – CBC News [2023-07-24]
The City of London has moved a step closer to approving a multi-million dollar plan to open a series of neighbourhood service hubs intended to provide life-saving supports and pathways to housing for those suffering through an increasingly deadly homelessness crisis. The plan was […]
‘This is an investment’: City staff justify London, Ont. homeless hubs plan – Global News [2023-07-19]
City councillors will debate the much-talked-about hub implementation plan to address London’s growing homelessness crisis in a special committee meeting next week. A 46-page report details the steps taken so far, including community engagement, and what immediate steps are needed next, including a request […]
Who was behind London’s big banana giveaway? Now we know. – CBC News [2023-07-19]
Months after spreading potassium and positivity across London, the man who gave out thousands of free bananas and sparked speculation from hundreds of Londoners has agreed to share his motivations. Tyler Lockhart, 21, says his generosity wasn’t inspired by a thirst for fame or […]
