Will council defund drop-in services for hundreds of homeless Londoners because of policy change?

A recent decision by city council not to fund new resting spaces for homeless Londoners on the main streets of Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), could halt the provision of basic needs like food, washrooms, and showers at Ark Aid Street Mission on April 1.

“We see upwards of 200 to 300 unique individuals each day through our daytime space,” Executive Director Sarah Campbell told the Community and Protective Services Committee on Monday.

Campbell initially attended the meeting to speak about the impact that a proposed funding reduction of about $611,000 would have on the daytime drop-in program during the period of April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

“There is one door that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week in our community for people when they are in crisis, when they are finding themselves in an encampment, or anywhere else in our city,” she explained.

However, Coun. Susan Stevenson argued that none of the funding should be provided to The Ark’s daytime drop-in program because council passed a policy in November meant to reduce the clustering of shelters within business districts.

“We had a 9 to 6 vote at council that said we would not fund resting spaces on the main street of a BIA,” Stevenson reminded members of the CAPS Committee.

Campbell explained that the daytime drop-in services funded through the municipality rotate people through the space, and it is not designed for resting or sleeping.

“It isn’t about not letting people have a chance to lay down their head,” countered Stevenson. “It’s the services that were provided last August to December that were not to continue, day or night, at 696 Dundas St.”

Coun. Hadleigh McAlister acknowledged that The Ark’s location is problematic for neighbours and nearby businesses, but he wouldn’t support defunding the provision of basic needs to homeless Londoners, “I understand the struggles that are going on in Old East Village, but I do think we all have to work together on this. I don’t want to cut off services entirely.”

A motion to fund the daytime drop-in services at the reduced amount of $611,000 was not recommended by the CAPS Committee after failing on a tie vote 2-2 (McAlister and Trosow in favour, Pribil and Cuddy opposed).

Campbell said The Ark has actively searched for a new location, but it’s unable to secure a building without a long-term funding commitment to provide services.

“We know that the Old East Village has an issue with the congregation of services, but if we don’t have stable funding to provide those services, we can’t move,” Campbell told CTV News. “I think that people need to understand the links of these things.”

According to Campbell, maintaining the drop-in services requires council to approve funding.

“No funding means that all of those people will need to be served outside on the streets of London. They will have to meet their own needs in those places,” she explained.

She worries it could result in many more people in the core area each day desperate to meet their basic needs.

“Do you have access to running water? Our Londoners won’t have that. Do you have access to a bathroom? These Londoners will not have access to a bathroom. Do you have food? People will not have access to that,” Campbell added.

The next meeting of City Council is scheduled for April 1, the same day that funding for daytime drop-in services expires.