(Toronto, ON) - Stable housing funding and early help for young people facing homelessness are among the priorities being urged on Ontario’s next municipal councils ahead of Monday’s election.

In a Canadian Press report published Sunday, Association of Municipalities of Ontario president Riley Brockington called for dependable, long-term support from the provincial and federal governments, rather than funding that expires before municipalities can plan ahead.

AMO’s January 2026 policy update estimated that 85,000 Ontarians experienced homelessness in 2025. That is historical data, not a new count released this weekend. The association’s proposals include an additional $11 billion over 10 years for housing and prevention, plus an estimated $2 billion over eight years to address encampments. These are funding requests, not newly approved spending.

The Sunday report also quotes Covenant House Toronto chief executive Mark Aston urging incoming mayors to commit to ending youth homelessness, with prevention and early intervention central to that goal.

The issue extends beyond election day: incoming councils will have to decide how housing and support services fit into municipal budgets.

Sources: The Canadian Press via CHCH, October 25; AMO policy update, January 13, 2026.

Editorial illustration of housing and municipal budgeting; not a photograph of a specific shelter, encampment or council meeting.