Effective solutions begin with a clear understanding of the problem. While the Niagara Region collects information on homelessness and addiction, much of the available data is reported at the regional level rather than being specific to individual communities. This makes it difficult to establish the full scope and nature of the challenges facing Welland.

April Jeffs will work with the City of Welland and the Niagara Region to develop and collect Welland-specific data on homelessness, addiction and related issues. Establishing a reliable local baseline will allow the City to better understand changing needs, target resources effectively and measure whether policies and programs are achieving meaningful results.

Homelessness, addiction and mental health are complex and serious issues, and we can’t solve them alone. Effective action requires strong coordination among municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments.

April Jeffs will work with all levels of government to ensure Welland receives its fair share of funding, services and resources for mental health, addiction treatment and homelessness initiatives.

Through strong relationships with provincial and federal representatives, April Jeffs will advocate for expanded and continued mental health and addiction treatment capacity in Welland. This should include additional mental health beds and dedicated addiction treatment resources at the Welland hospital and elsewhere in the community. She will also work to ensure that the mental health and addiction treatment services are delivered as promised.

Addressing homelessness and addiction requires coordination, communication and accountability across the community. April Jeffs will establish a Welland Homelessness and Addiction Task Force to bring together the organizations, agencies and levels of government involved in addressing these issues.

The Task Force will include representatives from community organizations, municipal and regional government, the Niagara Regional Police Service, EMS, health-care and social-service providers, and other relevant stakeholders. They will identify emerging challenges, coordinate existing resources, address ongoing issues and develop strategies that respond to Welland’s current needs.

The Niagara Regional Police Service is on the front lines of Welland’s homelessness, addiction and public safety challenges every day. Effective collaboration with police is essential to maintaining safe and welcoming public spaces.

April Jeffs will work with the Niagara Regional Police Service to support regular police foot patrols in downtown Welland. A visible and consistent police presence helps deter crime, respond to concerns and provide greater reassurance to residents, businesses and visitors.

April Jeffs will also advocate for expanded mobile mental health response teams, allowing mental health professionals to accompany police officers when responding to individuals experiencing mental health or addiction-related crises.

For individuals experiencing severe addiction who are unable or unwilling to seek treatment, the current system too often allows a cycle of crisis, emergency response, hospitalization, policing and repeated relapse to continue without a meaningful path toward recovery.

April Jeffs will advocate for a compassionate approach to addiction intervention and rehabilitation, focused on connecting people in crisis with the treatment, mental health and recovery supports they need to stabilize their lives and move toward recovery.

When addiction has reached a critical point and a person is unable to seek or sustain help on their own, we must have compassionate intervention options that prioritize dignity, safety, treatment and long-term recovery rather than allowing people to continue deteriorating without meaningful support. April Jeffs will advocate for expanded treatment and rehabilitation capacity alongside these interventions, ensuring that individuals experiencing severe addiction have access to appropriate mental health, addiction treatment, housing and recovery services.

Welland needs an approach that is compassionate enough to help people in crisis and proactive enough to recognize that allowing people to deteriorate on the streets is not an acceptable solution.