Bridging a gap
Rising homeless numbers make the case for an integrated mental health and addictions strategy in Halton.
The latest homeless count in Halton Region tells a story that extends far beyond numbers. With a 10% increase in homelessness since 2021 and a staggering rise in unsheltered individuals from 2% to 18%, we're witnessing not just a housing crisis but a profound mental health and addictions emergency that demands a comprehensive, integrated response.
The Undeniable Connection
The statistics paint a clear picture: 76% of individuals experiencing homelessness in Halton report mental health challenges, while 47% identify struggles with substance use. These aren't isolated issues—they're deeply interconnected factors that both contribute to and result from housing instability.
When we look at these numbers, we see the consequences of fragmented systems. Mental health issues often precede homelessness, but the trauma of becoming homeless can also trigger or worsen these conditions. Add substance use as a coping mechanism, and you have a complex cycle that's nearly impossible to break without coordinated intervention.
The current approach—with separate funding streams, disconnected service providers, and siloed expertise—creates barriers for the very people most in need of seamless support.
The Mental Health + Addictions Alliance: An Integrated approach
Recognizing the critical need for coordination, the Mental Health + Addictions Alliance brings together six community health agencies working in concert to deliver a more integrated approach to mental health and addiction services.
The Alliance represents a fundamental shift in service delivery, breaking down traditional silos between agencies to create more seamless care pathways. By pooling resources, expertise, and referral networks, the six agencies that make up the Alliance are providing more comprehensive support to individuals facing complex challenges.
The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. A study commissioned by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) projects that without significant intervention, Ontario could see triple the number of people experiencing homelessness by 2035.
For Halton specifically, this trajectory would mean over 900 individuals without stable housing within a decade—a humanitarian crisis with profound economic and social implications for the entire region.
What a Fully Integrated Strategy Looks Like
Addressing the full scope of Halton's homelessness crisis requires a comprehensive approach that bridges community mental health and addiction services with housing and employment solutions. This includes:
1. Coordinated Access Systems
Sharing assessment processes that connect clients to appropriate mental health, addiction, and housing services in their community without having to navigate multiple intake processes.
2. Cross-Trained Support Teams
Staff equipped with knowledge spanning mental health, addiction, and housing stability who can provide trauma-informed care that addresses the full spectrum of an individual's needs.
3. Housing First+ Approach
A Housing First model enhanced with integrated mental health and addiction supports, recognizing that stable housing alone is insufficient for many individuals without accompanying psychological and recovery services.
4. Shared Data Systems
Secure information sharing between service providers (with appropriate consent) to ensure coordinated care planning and prevent individuals from falling through the cracks.
5. Peer Support Integration
Formal incorporation of lived experience into service delivery, recognizing that peers can offer unique insights and build trust with individuals reluctant to engage with traditional systems.
The Economic Argument
Beyond the clear humanitarian case, an integrated approach makes fiscal sense. Research consistently shows that comprehensive, prevention-oriented strategies cost significantly less than managing the consequences of untreated mental illness, addiction, and chronic homelessness through emergency services, hospitalizations, and interactions with the justice system.
A 2023 study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that each individual experiencing chronic homelessness costs the healthcare system approximately $53,000 annually—costs that could be substantially reduced through preventive, integrated care.
From Crisis Response to System Transformation
The need for collective action across Halton is clear. The 2,440 shelter calls recorded in 2024 represent 2,440 opportunities for intervention with an integrated approach—opportunities that could transform lives while strengthening the social and economic fabric of our communities.
As the housing crisis intensifies—with 84% of homeless survey respondents citing low income and 77% pointing to high rents as barriers to housing—Halton stands at a crossroads. We can continue applying band-aids to a growing wound, or we can embrace the complex but necessary work of system transformation through an integrated mental health and addictions strategy.
This article draws on data from the 2024 Point-in-Time homeless count conducted in Halton Region, along with expert interviews and research on integrated approaches to mental health, addiction, and homelessness.