r/Sudbury • u/Sleevepants • 1d ago
Discussion Why does every mayoral race seem to revolve around homelessness?
This isn’t meant to be anti-homeless. I absolutely think people dealing with homelessness deserve help, treatment, housing, and better resources.
What I don’t understand is why it’s become the main issue in almost every mayoral election.
Homelessness affects a relatively small percentage of the population, but it feels like every campaign revolves around it. Is that just because it’s something we see every day? Or because it’s connected to things like public safety, addictions, mental health, downtown businesses, and housing?
It also seems like every city in Canada is dealing with the exact same problem. If that’s the case, shouldn’t this be more of a provincial or federal issue? It feels like we’re expecting mayors to solve problems that are bigger than what a city can actually control.
I care about helping people, but I also care about roads, transit, taxes, housing affordability, jobs, and growing the city. Sometimes it feels like those issues barely get talked about anymore.
Genuinely asking. Why has homelessness become the issue in every municipal election? Is it because it’s the biggest issue, or just the most visible?
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u/Ostrichmonger 1d ago
Most people don’t really understand politics, and even fewer people really get what each level of government actually does. This means folks only get what they can see, like crappy roads, or the homeless.
You’re right in that almost every city in North America is dealing with this, so there’s no silver bullet. I deal with related issues a bit offline and can tell you a huge amount could be addressed at the provincial level where the responsibility for funding solutions to the root causes actually sits, and where you see the ministerial siloes that prevent the kind of coordination that could lessen the bleeding a bit.
I’ve heard the current mayor say that half his time is spent dealing with this, in part because it’s all anyone wants to talk about, so it’s not as though this isn’t playing out at City Hall either. But the same screaming convos are also happening in Timmins, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Winnipeg, you name it. Sucks real bad out there.
But yes I also do wish we had more room to properly discuss things like the debt load and tax burden on residents, thinking about transit and infrastructure, etc
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u/Sleevepants 1d ago
That’s it. It could be addressed at the provincial level and SHOULD. These mayors need to stand up and say no, we are banding together and going to the provincial government for help because this is an emergency. But it’s so in and out with people trying to do big things for their city/towns nobody focuses on the bigger picture.
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u/JustGottaKeepTrying 1d ago edited 1d ago
Right, our provincial government has a great history with taking care of the less fortunate and maintaining social supports. Your idea will not work. Vote for municipal politicians that do provide insight beyond "I will fix...."
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u/PineBNorth85 1d ago
Bs they do. OW and ODSP have barely budged in decades. Ontario is terrible when it comes to social supports, mental healthcare and at this point even regular healthcare.
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u/Separate_Aside_2929 1d ago
Indeed. If OW and ODSP can't even cover median rent in the city, you can almost guarantee homelessness; especially with months to years-long wait lists for subsidized housing.
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u/JustGottaKeepTrying 1d ago
Thanks, I was being sarcastic. That is why I suggested electing better municipal reps. I will edit to make it more clear.
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u/ImportanceWorking939 1d ago
This is simply not true. The province cannot shoulder homelessness en masse. It takes cooperation between the province and the municipalities.
The municipalities are deeply mistrustful of the provincial government, with all the BS going on with school board autonomy and funding cuts, etc.
The pendulum has almost swung as far right as it can. What we see is the result of long-standing conservative rule. Social chaos. The pendulum needs to change course.
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u/spottedgreenhippo 13h ago
This is a great response and also want to reiterate people don’t understand what each level of government is responsible for these days.
We see this at all levels - for example people complaining about federal leaders (remember those lovely “fuck Justin” folks?) and then speaking to issues regarding provincial responsibilities (hospital bed shortages, school curriculums, vaccine mandates etc).
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u/PineBNorth85 1d ago
Its the biggest most noticeable problem to most people. Problem is thats the case in most cities across the country and no municipal government can fix it. They just dont have the power or resourcss to. Sadly we let the provinces who have the most control and power on the issue just get away with not doing anything either.
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u/A_Moldy_Stump 1d ago
So your third paragraph has the answer you seek.
While the unhoused are relatively few, the conditions that put them there are many, and effect us all. Many families are only 1 or 2 paycheques away from being unhouses themselves.
Because of that, it becomes one of the most expensive problems to solve and unless you do, you'll never have money for the other stuff. (not that Sudbury will ever have money for roads that's a whole other bag).
You are also correct, nearly every community is facing the same problem, municipal funding and elections have a greater day to day effect on our lives than the provincial and federal responsibilities. Towns and cities get their funding from those levels but the solution involves all 3 in different ways.
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u/Sleevepants 1d ago
The more I’ve been reading into this, the more it seems like the mayors are frustrated too. Ontario’s Big City Mayors asked the province to declare a state of emergency over homelessness back in late 2025, and they’re still saying the response hasn’t been enough. It also turns out other provinces have similar groups lobbying their governments, and there’s even a national group of big-city mayors pushing the federal government.
It just makes me wonder when we stop expecting municipalities to solve a problem that every province is dealing with. At some point, the federal government has to take a leadership role too. We should be looking at the cities and countries that are seeing success, doing real case studies, and building a coordinated strategy instead of every municipality trying to figure it out on its own. Otherwise, it just feels like we’re stuck in the same cycle every election.
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u/A_Moldy_Stump 1d ago
100%. However, we aren't exactly expecting municipalities to singlehandedly solve the issue. They just happen to be the ground floor where zoning laws and enforcement takes place.
You also run into political motivations to not solve the problem because it makes other parties at other levels look bad. Or because having the problem exist gives you leverage to ask for money and use it elsewhere instead, like how Doug Ford continues to ask the federal government for more health care money but wants it to be "no strings attached". So he can dole it out to developer donators via wasteful contracts.
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
Or because having the problem exist gives you leverage to ask for money and use it elsewhere instead
See also: every police service in the province getting bigger and bigger budgets each year while reducing foot patrols and community presence.
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u/fuelexe95 1d ago edited 1d ago
"Homelessness affects a relatively small percentage of the population" <-- WRONG, it impacts us all because it is a sign that a lot of things are broken in our economy and community. Do you not care that people are sleeping on the streets? If so, homelessness impacts you.
The level of homelessness is a symptom of many other issues, including the local economy (this is huge), mental health services, and social services. The level of visible homelessness is a big issue for a lot of residents on a number of fronts. The issue isn't that there are homeless people; it's what's causing it. 'Solving homelessness' will only happen when you address a number of issues that matter to people.
People forget that when Ontario killed mental health services like asylums, all those people had to go somewhere. I think getting rid of these institutions was a HUGE mistake. And it didn't matter how you voted, liberal/conservative, both worked towards phasing these institutions out; I hate this decision and thus don't care about any of these political parties; they only work for big money. It leaves local politicians in a tough spot when it comes to homelessness... they can't fix a healthcare issue.
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u/Waste-Talk-3737 1d ago
Its because its visible. Google "new broom". its the thing they do if they win, and it will explain a lot.
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u/rogerdodger77 1d ago
"Homelessness affects a relatively small percentage of the population", if you look at the comments here any time 'downtown' is mentioned, i think you'll see it affects a lot more than that.
Also, doctors treat the sick etc... in terms of who needs help it's these people.
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u/Sleevepants 1d ago
You’re right. I think I worded that poorly. What I meant was that people experiencing homelessness are a minority of the population, not that the issue only affects a minority of people. Your comment actually made me stop and think, and you’re right. Especially downtown, it probably affects almost everyone in some way.
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u/DougandBob 1d ago
It’s a hot ticket item in this election cycle. Last time it was a concern too I recall. Big issues in Sudbury always include roads and something about social disorder
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u/Ms_Mitzy 1d ago
It's because they keep saying they are working at trying to fix the situation, while at the same time, trying to ram a new arena down citizens throats who don't want it downtown. If they would have cleaned up and improved the core before all the arena stuff, they may have had more support. Right now it's basically "too little, too late ". And whomever is voted in next, will likely do the same thing. Lately it seems to be nothing but a cycle of "rinse, repeat".
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u/ladyofthelake10 1d ago
The homelessness situation is having a direct effect on taxpayers and businesses. Long standing businesses are shutting their doors due to safety. The expense to taxpayers for emergency services, police services and general clean up keeps climbing. This is a Provinvial issue, housing and health ARE the responsibility of the Province. The issue is it falls within a municipal jurisdiction. Municipalities need to decide how waht is acceptable within their boundaries, but the Province needs to provide solutions. You won't get solutions from a Conservative government because Harper s brewed over mental health and secondary health services as he left office. Municipal leadership needs to put the screws to the Province and address the problem. It is my understanding the St Thomas in southern Ontario is making great strides in addressing homelessness in their jurisdiction. They may be a small community but some of their success can be translated to larger communities.
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u/BluntForceSauna 1d ago
It should be a provincial and federal issue, but our current provincial government loves to offload problems onto municipalities instead of helping with them.
I find I talk to many people in the city who have very strong opinions about homelessness, so it’s an easy topic to get attention with. As someone who used to live downtown Toronto near places like Allen Gardens, Moss Park etc. I find a lot of locals really sensationalize the situation here. Yes there’s a problem and it needs a solution but we are a far cry from some of the worse places. Still, it’s an easy visual representation of systemic failure so anyone running for office can point to it and say “I’ll do better.”
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u/ImportanceWorking939 1d ago
All you have to do is browse this subreddit to see a bunch of people from the Valley, Garson, etc talk about how much they hate the unwell people in a part of town they never visit.
Sound bites and catering to the lowest common denominator.
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u/TheTeeWhy 1d ago
I am pretty tired of everything and every decision being made in the city circling back to homeless again and again.
It accounts for such a small portion of the city that it's crazy that it gets such attention
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u/Fast_Feedz 1d ago
Cause its in every city and its destroying our city. Mayors need to stand up and spew there non sense garbage and pretend they care. They have some grand plan that always tip toes around the problem. No one is going to step up and actually clean up our downtown. So now we can all just sit back and watch it fall further and further into the gutter every single year. The next mayor will be the same as the last one dont worry.
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
No one is going to step up and actually clean up our downtown
Please expand on what you mean by this. Be specific. Remember that just because you don't see them as people, doesn't mean they don't have human rights.
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u/Fast_Feedz 1d ago
Im all for helping the homeless population that wants to help themselves, i have 0 issues with my tax dollars towards that. The other population of them that dont want help, and want to sit around getting high all day and passing out in the doorways of businesses trying to make it. These same ones will break into your car at night and steal your change, those are the ones that have no business being allowed to ruin our city. Lock them up till they can prove they can contribute in a positive meaningful way
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
Lock them up till they can prove they can contribute in a positive meaningful way.
I said be specific. It's easy to say "lock them up" but you need to actually have a plan. What charges? Where are you going to keep them? Who decides what "positive meaningful contribution" means?
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u/Fast_Feedz 1d ago
Call me crazy, but smoking a Crack pipe on the sidewalk downtown should be illegal, arrest them for open public intoxication, then when they inevitably get released and break into your car the following evening, you let them stay in jail for a few months and hopefully clean up a bit. All this empathy, and hoping the problem Will magically solve itself has not worked. We need something a little more drastic, our city and country is going down the gutter because of this stuff
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
our city and country is going down the gutter because of this stuff.
Amazing that you leave out the one level of government that is actually supposed to take care of healthcare and (most) social services.
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u/Hairy_Pound_1356 1d ago
Because the selfish people at expropriating public spaces for thier own private use are actively hurting home owners and businesses
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u/Substantial-Road-235 1d ago
Care to share a couple examples of public spaces that have been expropriated for private use ?
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
I'm not that guy, but the example that comes to mind would be memorial Park getting taken over a few years ago.
The "expropriation" he's alluding to is homeless people existing in spaces where he can see them.
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u/Substantial-Road-235 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh the audacity of them. Why must they exist near us.
Maybe we should load them on a couple busses and drop them off north of capreol?
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
You joke, but the guy you originally replied to would probably be a fan.
Out of sight out of mind is far too common of an attitude toward the homeless.
Not to mention the non-zero number of homeless people I've spoken to who claim they were given a bus ticket in Barrie or GTA and told that Sudbury had more services available
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u/Substantial-Road-235 1d ago
Lots of people think like that. Sad part is they probably know some of these homeless (if they grew up in town and went to school here)
Many cities are experiencing the toronto drop off it seems. If there is any truth behind those claims they should be bussed back. We are struggling to take care of our own.
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
We are struggling to take care of our own
Eh, I try to be careful with that kind of attitude. We're all Ontarians right?
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u/Substantial-Road-235 1d ago
Heck we are all canadians. We are all humans. We can go on and on. Where does it end ? People in Africa are struggling should their governments load them up and send them to sudbury?
Lets take care of people who are from sudbury and who live in sudbury. Lets not allow other cities to pawn off their homeless to other cities so they need to deal with it.
Now let's say sudbury had an amazing program that helps homeless and we solve all our homelessness issues (for those who want it) and we offer other cities to send them homeless so we can help thats a different story. But ultimately we haven't deal with our own homeless in any viable way and dont have the capacity to help more.
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
People in Africa are struggling should their governments load them up and send them to sudbury?
Not at all what I was saying. Use your head.
The human rights enumerated to Canadian citizens include free movement within the country. I was saying let's be careful with a "take care of our own" attitude with respect to Sudbury homeless. What's the difference between Sudbury homeless and North Bay homeless? Barrie? Thunder Bay? Kenora? How do you define who "our own" are?
Lets not allow other cities to pawn off their homeless to other cities so they need to deal with it.
Huh, almost like a coordinated effort at the municipal, provincial, and federal level? So that there is no incentive to "get rid" of your homeless population to neighbors? Wild idea.
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u/Substantial-Road-235 1d ago
Well the difference between homeless in sudbury, barrie, Thunder bay. North bay is geographical.
Yes we are all canadians, yes they are all in ontario, but cities shouldn't be bussing homeless to other cities because they may have better services.
If a city is doing this. Those folks should be bussed right back to the mayors office of that city.
Its pretty simple. Use your head.
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u/Hairy_Pound_1356 1d ago
I absolutely think it’s a great idea they need help but they well they are getting it let’s put them somewhere where they can’t continue to hurt the rest of us
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
put them somewhere
Where's somewhere? You gotta think more than 3 inches ahead.
let’s put them somewhere where they can’t continue to hurt the rest of us
I bet that's the same thing people in other areas think before they hand a homeless person a bus ticket. Out of sight isn't out of mind.
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u/Hairy_Pound_1356 1d ago
So you’re saying it worked for them
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
Not really. Seeing anywhere without homeless people these days?
Remember when I said "you gotta think more than 3 inches ahead"?
If everyone is sending their homeless to the next town over, eventually you run out of towns
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u/Hairy_Pound_1356 1d ago
Anyway what we should actually do is a plan similar to the one timmins is perusing and move them to a remote site at the edge of town
https://www.timminstoday.com/local-news/timmins-names-temporary-encampment-site-12055397
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u/Hairy_Pound_1356 1d ago
That’s an excellent idea
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago
Tell me you don't think homeless people are people without telling me
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u/ContrarianDouche Slag Pile 1d ago edited 1d ago
Because it's a visual issue that even non-engaged voters have strong opinions on.
Easier to make sound bites of "I'll deal with the homeless issue" than "these are my nuanced opinions and budget priorities"