• Provide coordinated permanent solutions to house people.
  • Strengthen partnerships to help people with mental health issues or addiction.
  • Support safer, cleaner, accessible neighbourhoods and public spaces.
  • Elevate recreation, arts, culture and community well-being.

 

Peterborough is renown for its quality of life as well as its people who truly care for one another. The city must support those in need, those who help others, as well as those people, organizations, and the spaces that make Peterborough an enjoyable place to live in. 
Affordable, attainable housing is a major concern across Canada. Mike, working with council, will direct the city’s efforts to house the most vulnerable as well as for those who feel that a stable, desirable home is beyond their means.
The city has currently pledged to create 4700 new homes by 2031. Mike would like to see the city exceed that goal.
Over the past four years, homelessness has increased 23% in Ontario. There are now 76,000 unhoused people in the province. Homelessness and poverty are often accompanied with wellness and addiction issues. Housing is the number one way to lift people out of poverty. We also need to ensure appropriate and effective treatment is available for those who need it.
There are a lot of good people in this community dedicated to helping the lives of others. The city needs to work more closely and more efficiently with the non-profit sector in a more coordinated, holistic, evidence-based and cost-effective way.
However, only the aggressive pursuit of provincial and federal funding for new, lower-income housing units will solve the situation. Traditional, temporary funding solutions are not enough. Mike will push for substantial, multi-year grants for housing, so that the city can plan ahead and move as many people into housing as possible.
 Mike’s plan to address issues of homelessness, addiction, wellness, accessibility and quality of life include:

YEAR ONE (2027)

  • Immediate review the entire shelter, housing, and treatment system. Find and support the successes; identify and fix gaps; have recommendations ready for next budget cycle.

  • Create a Mayor’s Committee on Housing, Addiction and Wellness, bringing together the city, Peterborough Housing Corporation, non-profit organizations, health-care and housing experts, business leaders and residents. Create a long-term plan with shared metrics and real goals. Ensure that multiple avenues exist, meeting people where they are.

  • Provide clear, accessible public reporting about those experiencing homelessness and the numbers of those who are finding housing or accessing treatment.

  • Guide renewal process of Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and promote a holistic approach and better use of resources between the city and county.

  • Set aggressive targets to reduce backlogs for rent-geared-to-income/subsidized housing as well as reduction in homeless by 2031.

  • Usher in new Municipal Cultural Plan that supports growth of arts, heritage, culture, and sport.

YEAR TWO (2028)

  • Explore new treatment and shelter solutions, including the development and operation of new treatment facilities, developing a vision and finding new federal and provincial funding options.

  • Reinstitute downtown mental health and wellness teams to intervene as issues occur.

  • Fight to eliminate waitlist for Special Priority housing (people experiencing domestic abuse or human trafficking, etc.).

  • Remove permitting barriers at city hall; expedite all housing projects that have stalled.

  • Aggressively pursue Additional Residential Units (ARUs) and other densification; expand property-assisted loan program to help with ARUs, make more standard plans are resources available.

  • Ensure that city is on-track with Accessibility Plan, removing barriers to city spaces, and prepare groundwork for next five-year vision.

YEAR THREE (2029)

  • Explore creative solutions to maximize use of current housing stock, i.e. city-led programs to pair seniors with students or young professionals to reduce unhoused and expand home supports.

  • Host community consultations on current state of housing, treatment, and wellness. Review what is and what isn’t working.

YEAR FOUR (2030)

  • Revisit housing and homelessness targets; find if we are on track for 2031; find solutions to overcome gaps.

What does success look like?

There will be noticeably less poverty and fewer people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Peterborough. There is a greater cooperation among city, non-profits, and other agencies leading to lasting solutions. The most vulnerable will have immediate ways to get off and stay off the streets. There is more housing stock that meets needs the needs of young residents beginning careers and families.

People suffering from mental health and addiction issues will receive the treatment they need in a timely and effective fashion. Open use of drugs in the downtown and other public areas will not be allowed.  

Arts, heritage, culture, and sports are flourishing. Parks and public spaces are more accessible, barrier-free, safe and inviting.