There’s a homelessness crisis but no state of emergency, mayor says

By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source THUNDER BAY — There is a homelessness crisis, and the city is taking action. But, for now at least, there will be no state of emergency declaration. That, briefly, is Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff’s response to a recent letter from leaders of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and Fort William First Nation. The NAN/Fort Wiliam letter to Boshcoff, posted on social media last Friday, said there is an emergency as unhoused people perish “in the streets, in public parks, in bus shelters.” It urged the city to declare a state of emergency. “I agree this is a crisis,” Boshcoff states in Thursday’s letter of reply posted on the city’s Facebook page and website. His letter also acknowledges a “need for…

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