By Claude & Parth on 2026-03-14, City: Hamilton, View Transcript
The Expanding Housing and Support Services for Women, Non-Binary and Transgender Community Subcommittee met to review how the city collects and uses gender-based data in housing and homelessness programs. The committee identified significant gaps in data collection, particularly for trans and non-binary individuals, and discussed the need for a formal equity framework rather than the current ad hoc approach. Members called for concrete action plans with measurable outcomes and timelines, expressing frustration that years of discussion have not resulted in clear progress.
GENDER DATA GAPS IN HOMELESSNESS SERVICES: Staff acknowledged that current data systems significantly undercount women and gender-diverse individuals experiencing homelessness. Only 2% of shelter users identify as trans, non-binary, or gender diverse, but service providers report this does not reflect actual need. When Dorothy Day shelter opened, they received numerous calls from trans and non-binary individuals experiencing housing precarity who "avoid the current shelter system out of fear." Staff noted "there's definitely a lot more work to be done" despite recent improvements to contract language and emergency shelter standards.
LACK OF FORMAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK: The city's work has been done through "issue specific and ad hoc approaches rather than a formally adopted equity framework," according to the report. Greg Tedesco, Manager of Homelessness Policy and Programs, announced the city is developing a more consistent and holistic gender equity framework that will apply across different city departments and guide funding decisions. The current approach is complicated by multiple funding streams from federal, provincial, and municipal sources, each with their own policies.
HOUSING WAITLIST DEMOGRAPHICS NOT SHARED: Staff revealed that over 400 families with "SP status" (fleeing violence) are currently on the Access to Housing list, primarily women-led families or individual women. However, the city does not regularly share detailed demographic breakdowns of the waitlist with council. Staff acknowledged "we don't break down for you what those demographics look like. Who are those individuals and how are they finding themselves on the list?" and committed to doing "a better job" bringing forward community need data.
CALL FOR MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS: Councilors expressed frustration that while the city reports to federal and provincial funders, there is no formalized municipal system for evaluating housing priorities. One member stated: "I don't care what the federal government has to say. We're the municipality, right?...just because the federal government says these are the standards that we use when we fund you for a specific housing project like who cares...it doesn't identify how the city of Hamilton understands this to be a priority piece of work." Members called for city-specific housing standards, regular public reporting, and a concrete plan with defined metrics and timelines.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND WORK PLAN: The committee discussed revising its terms of reference, noting it had a delayed launch and may only have 3 to 7 meetings instead of the typical 20 over a full council term. Councilor Cretch suggested establishing "an outcome for this committee and to make a decision about whether this committee is something that should be a long-standing item or...should have a term of work and then kind of wrap up." Members emphasized the need for specific, measurable outcomes and a formal work plan to avoid "becoming very secular and not seeing any sort of momentum."
Passed: - Motion to receive the Gender-Based Data and Policies Report - Motion to remove Item 7.1 from the Outstanding Business List - Motion directing staff to report back in Q2 with detailed breakdown of data on ending chronic homelessness, to be presented at a May/June meeting before going to General Issues Committee (moved by Councilor Morin Wilson, seconded by Councilor Kretch) - Motion to receive terms of reference (to be discussed and potentially revised at next meeting)
Staff Present: - Robin Perry, Senior Project Manager of Homelessness System Integration - Michelle Baird, Director of Housing Services - Greg Tedesco, Manager of Homelessness Policy and Programs