KAWARTHA LAKES-If it seems that there are many more people experiencing homelessness than there used to be—the numbers definitely support that conclusion. This year, the City of Kawartha Lakes is aware of 127 households that are actively experiencing homelessness in Kawartha-Haliburton, a 32% increase in one year. Much of this vulnerable population is concentrated in Lindsay. For many local residents it is a shocking development—people are not used to seeing tent encampments, or having friends and family stay with them to avoid being on the street.
It seems that everybody agrees on the problem that is causing an increase in homelessness—”the cost of living has gone through the roof,” as A Place Called Home Executive Director Angela Ricciuti explains. It’s hard not to notice the prices of groceries increasing. Today, a Big Mac Extra Value Meal costs $13.89—a Canada Deal from 2015 offered the same combo for $4.99. Today it seems that just about everyone knows someone who cannot afford a home, whether it is adult children living with their parents or someone who house sits to get by.
Someone making minimum wage at a full-time job would earn about $2800 per month before taxes–$2300 net after taxes. It is hard to find a one-bedroom apartment for less than $1500 in the City of Kawartha Lakes. So, if they are fortunate enough to find an inexpensive apartment within walking distance of their job and a grocery store, they might be able to afford to have somewhere to live, and to buy groceries, but not a car or utilities. More likely, they could get by sharing a room in a rental house.
For anyone who doesn’t have a full-time job, the situation is much dicier. As the City of Kawartha Lakes explains, “since 2018, average rental prices have increased between 31-65%. Income rates for those receiving Ontario Works or ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) remain stagnant, meaning the most vulnerable in the community are most often unable to afford a room to rent, let alone a private rental unit.”
In theory, municipal low-cost housing is intended to care for people who cannot afford to purchase a home. In 2024, those who were housed had waited an average of 6-7 years. Those applying for low-cost housing today are told that they can expect to wait a minimum of 10 years. But what happens during the decade that they are waiting for somewhere to live?
“While we have the services in place to act as a safety net for folks experiencing homelessness, we have nowhere to move them after they are in shelter and stabilized,” Angela explains. “Often if someone finds a unit it is out of their price range. It’s very frustrating for those who want to change their situation and move forward.” Some people get caught in a cycle of becoming homeless, moving to a shelter, having their life stabilize temporarily, only to become homeless again.
Much of the housing that exists or is being built in the City of Kawartha Lakes is beyond the means of many residents. Mobile homes cost upwards $200,000 and small run-down houses sell for around $400,000. New builds in a subdivision near Lindsay start at about $500,000—a mortgage that many households simply cannot afford. After the Second World War, it was common to build smaller, simpler houses that people could afford. Ironically, Canadian society is richer than it ever has been before, yet many people cannot afford to build houses. Today there are so many regulations, development fees and vacant land costs so much that simple, affordable homes are just not practical any more. Make no mistake, government can control all of these variables.
A proportion of people who cannot afford to purchase a conventional home, would like to build the home that they can afford. Nowadays, tiny homes are fashionable—they are featured on home design shows. Being much smaller than a conventional home, they can require much less energy to heat and substantially fewer resources to construct. In 2021, a petition was brought to City of Kawartha Lakes Council to allow tiny houses—in part for environmental reasons and in part to alleviate the housing crisis. Despite this initiative, they are not allowed in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
When the Planning Department of the City of Kawartha Lakes was asked about the legality of tiny houses, they replied: “The Ontario Building Code governs ultimate minimums. ‘Tiny Homes’ like the type you see on HGTV [Home & Garden Television] for example are not permitted in Ontario according to the OBC [Ontario Building Code].”
Though the City of Kawartha Lakes does not allow tiny homes, indicating that issue is the Province, the Province of Ontario does seem to permit them under building code and they publish a guide on how to legally construct them. According to this guide, the minimum size for a home is 13.5 square meters (roughly 12 feet x 12 feet). If they have a mezzanine or second floor, they are not allowed to use a ladder to access it, and must have guardrails for safety—and any stairs must meet building code. They must have a minimum ceiling height of 2300 mm (7 feet 6.5 inches) or 2100 mm (6 feet 10.5 inches) on a mezzanine. They are required to have windows totalling an area that is a minimum of 10% of the floor area. They are required to have hot and cold-water supply, a sink, bathtub or shower, a separate kitchen sink, and a (conventional or composting) toilet. They are required to be heated, and have a minimum of one light in the entrance and in every room. It also must have a foundation meeting building code.
Rather than there being a provincial ban on tiny houses, a City of Kawartha Lakes R1 [Residential] Zoning document indicates a minimum house size of 92 square meters (roughly 33 feet x 33 feet). The Ontario Planning Act does not contain a minimum house size for R1 zoning. When asked about tiny houses, one councillor commented: “Sounds great but any development for homeless need staff supports!” Unfortunately, city staff indicate that low-cost housing has a minimum ten-year waiting list. What happens in the intervening decade?
The City of Kawartha Lakes indicates that the “affordable solution the municipality permits” is for homeowners to apply to the City to create additional residential units—up to two per lot—subject to restrictions. By law, the occupant is required to be tenant—you cannot own a tiny house, without owning the primary dwelling on site. So, building your own tiny home to live in is not legal in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
City Staff explain that “affordability is a factor for many” who end up experiencing homelessness, “especially those on fixed incomes. Often health-related issues including mental health conditions contribute to people losing permanent housing. Lack of supports, life skills, high levels of trauma and relationship issues are also key factors we see.”
Many of the people who are experiencing homelessness find someone they know to help. But the most vulnerable end up living in encampments. It’s certainly not safe and a very hard life—cold, damp, dirty. Where do you go to the washroom? Where will you find something to eat? City staff explain, “we have found that individuals living at these sites were generally engaged, approachable, and appreciative of support and kindness.” But not everybody is kind and considerate. Last summer there were two reported incidents of attempted arson perpetrated at an encampment, and incidents where “individuals experiencing homelessness were subjected to harassment or verbal abuse by some local residents.”
“People experiencing homelessness are highly stigmatized; often feeling less than or not wanted in the community,” City staff elaborate. “There was a great deal of negative social media attention towards encampments in the municipality and it is generally a very divisive social issue. Access to basic needs, medical treatment or mental health care are common challenges for those who are living day to day in survival mode. Theft of personal items such as ID and paperwork are common, leaving people even less able to apply for apartments or housing.” How many people living in an encampment have access to a family physician, in a country that prides itself on free, universal health care?
Angela elaborates: “One thing that we heard over and over during the summer was that lots of folks felt that they were looked at differently being outside. They may have experienced homelessness in the past, in the way of being in shelter or couch surfing, but being outside and visible to the world was a different scenario. The words dignity, respect and kindness specifically came up repeatedly in conversations. Folks feeling that they had lost their dignity, folks feeling that they weren’t being treated with respect due to their situation and then the obvious lack of kindness that was being felt by this group.”
The City of Kawartha Lakes and A Place Called Home work together to provide supports for people experiencing homelessness. Anyone who is experiencing homelessness or who is at risk can contact either organization for help. Last December, to accommodate increasing demand, the City supported A Place Called Home to increase the number of beds from 19 to 30 on a permanent basis. Nevertheless, there is still not adequate space. City Staff explain, “when there is a lack of shelter space many find temporary shelter either by connecting to friends, family and supports to couch surf.” They did not mention that the person might end up living in the park! A Place Called Home is located at 64 Lindsay Street South and can be reached at 705 328 0905.
A Place Called Home tries to move new residents into the shelter as quickly as possible “the longer you remain in a homeless situation the harder it is to get out. … Anyone presenting as homeless via phone or in person would go through a process called diversion, whereby we ensure that there are no other alternative housing options available to them prior to coming into shelter. A brief intake is completed, outlining expectations and rules. Families and individuals are placed in private or semi-private rooms with a shared bathroom. The shelter provides 3 meals a day plus snacks and accommodates all dietary restrictions. Because it is a shared living environment everyone is expected to chip in with chores and general help around the building. We keep the other duties to a minimum as we want folks to treat looking for housing as their full-time job while they are here. That might include ensuring they have sufficient income (getting on social services or looking for work), ensuring that they are document ready for units that become available. … During the day APCH is a busy hub of staff and residents working on housing goals. After hours the TV can be turned on, people can play cards or board games, and they are welcome to hang out in their bedrooms.”
While living at A Place Called Home, there are a few rules, as Angela explains. “Keep your area and self clean, be kind to each other the staff and volunteers, secure and maintain the financial ability to move forward, attend meetings with staff to work on goals and find permanent stable housing.”
Unfortunately, A Place Called Home does not have enough space for all the people experiencing homelessness in the area—despite recently increasing their capacity from 19 to 30. “In the summer months, folks sleeping rough (tenting, etc…) can access our drop-in services. They can come in and use the washroom, have a shower, do their laundry, grab a meal and make phone calls. These services are available to them while they wait for shelter space or other temporary or permanent housing options to pop up.” Last year, A Place Called Home helped about 200 people, and their drop-in services accommodate about 50 people weekly. On average, they serve 549 meals each week.
“In the winter months, APCH partners with CKL Human Services to ensure that anyone living rough have somewhere to stay when temperatures reach the -10 mark or there are significant weather events such as freezing rain or heavy snow. Folks can call the shelter if they are currently unsheltered, and staff will work with them to ensure they have a warm place to stay until the weather warms.” Why does the City of Kawartha Lakes find it acceptable to have people living in tents as long as the temperatures are above -10 C?
A Place Called Home receives core operating funding from the City of Kawartha Lakes, but community support is essential to their operations. Financial donations help them to continue operating. They appreciate donations of food, bedding, towels, pillows and toiletries, but they ask that you contact the shelter first to make sure that they have the space to accommodate the items being donated. Volunteers can help with their fundraising efforts, planning and executing events.
Homelessness is caused by many factors, but Angela explains that the reason that we are seeing a 32% year over year increase is “the lack of affordable housing stock.” Has the time come that we all should be thinking about what can be done to ensure that there is adequate affordable housing?
This story is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum and was written by Glenn Walker.
If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to: [email protected] or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
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