Ontario child-welfare groups housing kids in offices, trailers under probe

The Ontario ombudsman is opening an investigation into safety concerns about the practice of child-welfare agencies housing young children and teens in motels and hotels.

The Ontario ombudsman is opening an investigation into safety concerns about the practice of child welfare agencies housing young children and teens in motels and hotels, among others.

On Thursday, Ontario ombudsman Paul Dubé announced that he would be launching the investigation in light of several reports about children being inappropriately housed in hotels, motels, offices and trailers.

“We are aware of numerous incidents across the province of children being placed in these unlicensed settings, many of which have raised some serious concerns about their safety, privacy and comfort,” Dubé said.

This investigation comes months after the union representing the Children’s Aid Society workers first spoke out about what they called a “crisis” in the child-welfare sector over these housing concerns.

The ombudsman notes that children’s aid societies have indicated that they place children in these types of unlicensed settings – including spaces in their own offices – as a last resort, due to a lack of appropriate housing options.

This can especially be the case for young people with special needs or challenging behaviours, he notes in the release.

In addition to looking into the use of this practice by children’s aid societies, the investigation will look at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ response to the practice.

“It is our intent to determine why this is happening and, if applicable, make recommendations to ensure the rights of these vulnerable young people are respected,” Dubé said.