For about the cost of a single night in an emergency hostel, Hamilton’s three trusteeship programs can keep an enrolled individual from losing their home for an entire month. Yet Hamilton is about to cut these programs because they don’t happen to fit a bureaucratic master plan.



The thinking of the trusteeship programs is simple – by helping vulnerable individuals to better manage their financial affairs, they can prevent them from ever falling into homelessness. The Good Shepherd, Salvation Army and Mission Services do this by providing advice and directly managing the financial affairs of men and women on social assistance, many who suffer from mental illness and addictions. Participation in these programs is entirely voluntary-and enrollment is usually at capacity.



The savings to the public extends well beyond the cost of alternative emergency housing.



A 2012 report conservatively estimates that homelessness costs a Canadian $4.5 billion per year when including the additional demands on the health care and the justice systems. That’s a high price to pay for a system that leaves too many Canadians out in the cold.



It is time for all levels of government to tackle homelessness at the root level. Let’s not begin by cutting services that are presently having an impact.



Funding for these programs runs out March 31, 2016.

On January 18, 2016 the city’s Emergency and Community Services Committee meets to make a final decision on this issue.

We would urge you to sign a petition and contact Hamilton’s Mayor Fred Eisenberger to ask him and his Council to reconsider the recommendations of city staff and make every effort to save these programs.



Mayor Fred Eisenberger

Email: mayor@hamilton.ca

Phone: 905-546-4200

Fax: 905-5462340



Member of the Emergency and Community Services Committee

Terry Whitehead – 905-546-2712 terry.whitehead@hamilton.ca

Matthew Green – 905-546-4200 matthew.green@hamilton.ca

Aidan Johnson – 905-546-2416 aidan.johnson@hamilton.ca

Jason Farr – 905-5462711 jason.farr@hamilton.ca

Sam Merulla – 905-546-4512 sam.merulla@hamilton.ca

Tom Jackson – 905-546-2707 tom.jackson@hamilton.ca

Judi Patridge – 905-546-2713 judi.patridge@hamilton.ca