District of Muskoka Continues Soliciting Provincial Support for Housing and Homelessness Crisis

District council heard that a lack of provincial supports is contributing to a homelessness emergency

Bracebridge Council were advised that the District of Muskoka is continuing to push the Province for support for the housing and homelessness crisis, in the August 12, 2026, meeting.

Councillor, Don Smith, provided an update regarding discussions in the recent Community and Planning Services committee meeting.

He said, “There will be a motion that comes forward to Council with regard to the amount of funding that is distributed in Ontario Works and also the supports - or lack thereof – for housing and homelessness and the sort of things we need to do, and that motion will be directed at the Province and soliciting some support for those who are in need in our community.”

A 2023 report by the Manager of Homelessness Prevention, Maureen Callaghan, declaring homelessness “an emergency,” requested that the Provincial and Federal governments “declare that homelessness is a humanitarian crisis” and that they make a commitment to ending it.

Callaghan reported that the issue remains a challenge despite District efforts and programs such as the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI), the Muskoka Affordable Housing Initiatives Program (MAHIP), seeking specialized provincial grants and a push “to transition temporary relief funding into long-term predictable investments to address rural and regional homelessness pressures.”

The report adds, “The homeless crisis is taking a devastating toll on individuals, families, and communities,” and involves complex challenges and impacts on Muskoka residents, “including the loss of life.”

Councillor, Debbie Vernon, indicated that there have been complaints from the community regarding the old abandoned high school in Bracebridge. She said, “What a sad site that is.”

She explained, “There’s been some reports that people have been entering the building and sleeping on mattresses outside in the bush.”

“When you talk about homelessness, that’s one of our target areas,” she said.

The report adds that addressing the homelessness crisis also puts stress on the District and area municipalities, including first responders, health services, and non-profit service providers.

It continues that despite attempts to deal with the issues, “the District requires additional resources, capacity and tools to address this complex challenge.”