Rather than waiting for help from higher levels of government, Greater Sudbury's city council has approved funding to combat homelessness.
According to the Community Solutions Team on Homelessness, there are currently 409 people living on the street in Greater Sudbury.
On Wednesday, city council approved a recommendation by the solutions team to enter into a $361,828 contract with the Homelessness Network, a group of social service providers, which will administer and co-ordinate services to those in need.
Social service providers falling under the contract include the Centre de sante communautaire de Sudbury, L'Association des jeunes de la rue, Cold Weather Alert, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Corner Clinic.
Vicki Smith, a member of the solutions team, said this funding is a big step up for homelessness in Greater Sudbury.
"The approach that's going to be taken now is so different than the approach that was taken in the past," she said.
"It's so logical that the focus has to be on getting people into permanent, safe, stable housing and giving them the supports, for as long as it takes, and to make sure they stay in housing, because that's been an issue in the past.
"The contract that we hope the city signs with the Homelessness Network would have an option to renew.
"There's some checks that are put in place to make sure the city is getting what they pay for, but if it all works out well we'd like to see this be stable funding where people don't have to come back and beg for bridge funding again and again."
