Homeless hubs plan receives endorsement from London, Ont. councillors

The strategic priorities and policy committee voted in favour for staff to begin the procurement process of selecting the locations of the first five hubs and obtaining funding.

The city’s first significant portion of the Health and Homelessness Whole of Community Response cleared a major hurdle Monday evening as councillors voted to endorse the proposed collaborative hubs implementation plan at a special committee meeting.

Members of the strategic priorities and policy committee (SPPC) – which includes all councillors – voted in favour of the hubs plan, paving the way for city staff to begin the procurement process of selecting the locations of the first five hubs and obtaining funding.

The vote represents the most significant endorsement of the Whole of Community Response since it was initiated last fall.

“When it comes to improving the lives of marginalized Londoners, the community at large and area businesses, I do not think we will ever have a better chance to do what’s before us right now,” said Mayor Josh Morgan.

The votes on the subject were split in three, with the endorsement of the plan receiving an 11-4 vote. Couns. Peter Cuddy, Susan Stevenson, Steven Hillier and Paul Van Meerbergen voted against the endorsement.

The vote on going forward with the procurement of locations was 12-3, with Hillier the lone vote change to yes. The vote on the remaining matters, including finding funding and a slew of additional motions added during the meeting was 14-1, with Hillier the lone no.

The plan, as reported by Global News last week, seeks to create the first three to five of up to 15 hubs that will service those most acutely in need of a safe space to get them off the streets, stabilized, and eventually into housing.

Each of the first five hubs is estimated to cost $2.7 million to operate annually, with an additional $2 million in capital costs to set up. The 24-hour-a-day hubs will have around six staff during the day and five overnight, offering many services, including basic necessities like food and bedding, housing and employment supports, medical care and justice system services.