Ontario is giving itself 10 years to end chronic homelessness, as recommended by an expert advisory panel.

“For far too long we have not challenged ourselves, as we should, to solve this problem. We have accepted it,” Deputy Premier Deb Matthews said Wednesday. “Well, we are no longer going to turn a blind eye.”

The panel, appointed in January as part of Ontario’s second five-year poverty reduction strategy, was established to define homelessness and determine how to measure it; set a target to end it; and help implement “best practices” across the province.

The government is also adopting the panel’s recommendation to focus on four key areas, including youth homelessness, aboriginal homelessness, chronic homelessness and homelessness following transitions from provincial institutions such as jails, hospitals, shelters, group and foster homes.

“Today we are taking a very important step forward. We have a plan, We know what we need to know. We are rolling up our sleeves and we are getting to work,” Matthews said during a news conference at Margaret’s, a downtown Toronto drop-in for homeless and marginally housed women.

Among those gathered for lunch and shelter from the pouring rain Wednesday was Anne-Marie Garrels, a First Nations woman who was homeless for 14 years until a local program helped her find housing almost a year ago.

“It’s about time,” said Garrels, 41, referring to the government’s attention to ending aboriginal homelessness.

In the short term, the province is earmarking $10 million over two years on initiatives to prevent and end homelessness, Mathews said. The money is part of Ontario’s $50-million local poverty reduction fund.

With the newly elected Liberal government in Ottawa promising to partner with provinces on a national affordable housing strategy, Matthews and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin expect funding in this area to increase.

“Isn’t it nice to have a federal partner at last?” McMeekin said.

Due to the complexity and many faces of homelessness, the problem is best fought at the local level, with the help of non-profit and private-sector partners, he added.

Looking toward the 10-year goal, municipalities will be expected to have local strategies to end homelessness and a common approach to collecting, measuring and tracking data.

“When it comes to complex issues like homelessness, it is very important to have a focus, so we aren’t moving about in a million directions,” said advisory panel member Pedro Barata, of United Way Toronto.

“What’s really encouraging is that we now have three levels of government that are, in general, on the same page in wanting to move forward on this issue,” he said in an interview.

Affordable housing advocate and advisory panel member Michael Shapcott lauded the province for setting a goal and getting started on a plan to meet it.

“But as we all know, nothing significant can happen in housing without more bricks and mortar. And money is absolutely key,” he said.

Under the provincial plan, homelessness is defined as: “the situation of a person or a family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.”

Chronic homelessness is defined as someone, often with a disabling condition, who has been homeless for six months or more in the past year.

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Fred’s story

“Familiar Face Fred,” a man who was homeless for 15 years in Deputy Premier Deb Matthews’ London, Ont., riding, and well known to local police, nurses, paramedics and jail staff, illustrates why the province needs to end homelessness.

In the year before Fred was housed, he visited the local hospital emergency department more than 250 times, often by ambulance. That is two out of every three days. He had more than 400 encounters with police — more than one a day.

In the year after a London-area agency worked with Fred to find him a stable home with supports, he visited the hospital emergency department twice. Fred had no encounters with police.

“Even the most hard-hearted people agree that we are way better to provide housing than to pay for all those unnecessary supports,” Matthews said. “What Fred’s story illustrates is that we can do this,” Matthews said. “All of us — not just Fred — are better off when we do. Fred is living proof that we can end homelessness. Where there is a will, we can achieve this goal.”