A June 21 decision by the provincial and federal governments to invest $640 million over the next two years in affordable housing could help address a major concern in Ontario. The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association reported that 171,360 families, seniors, single adults and couples were on waiting lists for rent-geared-to-income housing in 2015. More than 10,000 people with mental illnesses and addictions are on the waiting list of Access Point for a permanent supported housing unit in Toronto alone. The average wait for supportive housing is five to seven years.
Housing designed for people with mental health conditions can contribute to significant cost savings for the health system. It costs $486 a day to keep a person in a psychiatric hospital, $143 to $457 per day to keep a person in jail compared to $72 per day to house a person in the community with supports.
In addition to the June 21 announcement, the 2016 Ontario budget earmarked $178 million over three years to provide housing subsidies and benefits. This includes support for the construction of up to 1,500 new supportive housing units.