Report tracks surge in Sudbury’s encampment population

Meeting on Tuesday evening, Sudbury city council agreed to extend hours at three different facilities for the winter to help the homeless.

A report headed to city council in Greater Sudbury next week says the number of people living in encampments in the city exploded from 18 in January 2023 to 200 in June 2024.

The number of encampment sites also soared, the report for the Oct. 7 meeting said, from nine in 2023 to 44 in 2024.

The figures are part of a report on the city’s plans to expand the hours of daytime, weekend and overnight drop-in hours this year as the cold weather approaches.

“The number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the City of Greater Sudbury has continued to increase steadily over the past two years,” the report said.

“Under a coordinated access and encampment response, community outreach, by-law services and social services staff track the number of encampment sites and the number of people staying in encampments.”

The report tracked the growth of the city’s encampment population from 18 in January 2023, 46 in June of that year, 106 by January 2024 and 200 six months later.

The encampment population has remained steady at around 200 people since then. Nationwide, about 60,000 people are homeless in 74 communities in Canada, according to the latest figures available.

“With the increase in unsheltered homelessness seen in communities across Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario has stated that, ‘as homelessness continues to escalate in scope, visibility and complexity, communities in Ontario are seeing a rise in homeless encampments.’”

Greater Sudbury received $1.5 million in federal funding to help the city respond to the crisis, with $579,258 remaining for 2025-2026.

The report recommends funding a 24-hour drop-in program to be run by the Go-Give Project “to provide safe, temperature-regulated environment for vulnerable persons to rest, hydrate and access essential supports such as washroom access and service connections.”

It would run Nov. 1 of this year until April 30, 2026, offering round-the-clock help that includes crisis intervention, referrals, addiction support workers and overnight drop-in services. The cost would be $1,171,037.

In addition, the Samaritan Centre on Elgin Street is proposing 30 spaces – an increase of five – for its nightly drop-in centre that would operate from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. The centre would also offer daytime services from Nov. 1 to April 30, with a proposed budget of $464,593.

And the Canadian Mental Health Association is seeking $114,332 to extend its hours this winter for its Off the Street Shelter, which operates extended hours in winter from 9 p.m. until 11 a.m. and can house up to 35 people.

“Staff have advised that the additional hours were very beneficial and individuals accessing the shelter were tremendously appreciative of the extended support,” the report said.

“The additional hours permitted the CGS navigators additional time, in a warm environment, to discuss progress with their housing planning and health supports.”

The total budget of $1.749 million would be funded from the existing city operating budget of $620,704, the $579,258 remaining in federal funding and $550,00 in provincial funding.

While not a long-term solution, the report said increasing drop-in services gives them time to work on permanent solutions through “the Roadmap to End Homelessness recommendations.”

Read the full report here.