The City of Ottawa has come up with a strategy to deal with the ongoing challenge of homeless families, a problem that's seen hundreds sleeping in motels for months at a time.

As of March 2026, 664 families — including more than 1,200 children — were in the system, the strategy points out.

That’s a 76 per cent increase since 2023.

The current average stay in those temporary accommodations is about 11 months, according to a city report going before the community services committee next week.

That means the city spent nearly $30 million on hotel and motel placements in 2025 alone. For a family of four living in one room, the city spent an average about $5,800 a month.

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[–] pedz@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Keeping families housed in the first place is both less disruptive and more cost-effective, the city says, than reacting post-crisis.

Staff want to prioritize programs that provide emergency financial assistance and short-term “bridge funding” to help families cover rent and avoid eviction, the report says.

Well, yeah. They shouldn't have to live in motels and it shouldn't be that expensive for a city.

It's excellent that Ottawa is taking action and helps those in need, but also disappointing that the federal government is slowly reducing financial help.

The fact that cities are left to deal with this is is nonsensical. Beyond the ever reducing amount the federal already gives, provinces should play a much bigger role in financial help to prevent homelessness.

the most common reason for family homelessness was low income. That’s followed by high rent costs, lack of income assistance, and a general shortfall of support.

I can't stress enough how stupid I think it is that cities alone have to pay and find financial help to prevent homelessness. In Quebec the government seems absolutely indifferent to this issue and just blames the cities. Yet there are homeless people and families even in small towns.

The economic system is mostly responsible for this, so it should be provinces and the federal government that help the most.