A new report by the Financial Accountability Office says the Cochrane District has the highest rate of homelessness in Ontario, with four of the top 10 areas in the province located here in the north. The report said Cochrane had 1,097 homeless people per 100,000 population, far more than the second-highest area in Rainy River (834). The Nipissing District was fourth at 804. For Cochrane District Services Board CAO Brian Marks, the ranking is no surprise. “We’ve been in that position for almost a decade now,” Marks said Friday The report comes as the province continues to invest in programs intended to prevent homelessness and support people who are unhoused. But the FAO said homelessness numbers in Ontario increased 23 per cent, from 62,252 individuals in 2022-23 to an estimated 76,741 in 2025-26. The report also projected homelessness will continue to grow over the next three years. While addiction and mental health are significant factors, the rising cost of living is what is driving most people into homelessness, Marks said. “Something that people should be aware of is that addictions don’t cause homelessness,” he said. “Given the fact that we deliver social assistance, ranging from geared-to-income housing to community housing, the biggest driver of homelessness is poverty. It is the inability of people to be able to afford a place to live.” The FAO also pointed to declining housing affordability and population growth as factors behind the increase in homelessness. Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau said more needs to be done before people reach the point of needing emergency homelessness services. “I think what’s lacking is a focus on prevention, rather than always being in an emergency response mode,” Boileau said. She said Ontario’s approach to housing creates additional pressure for municipalities. Boileau said Ontario is the only province where housing is a municipal responsibility, leaving municipalities responsible for maintaining existing housing and finding resources to build new affordable units. Boileau said current funding isn’t keeping pace with the need. “What we need to see more of is grant programs,” she said. “We need those cash grants to infuse into projects so that we can build in more affordability.” The FAO cautioned that its figures represent the known population experiencing homelessness. The province’s by-name list doesn’t capture everyone experiencing homelessness, including people who are not known to municipalities or who have not consented to be included.
