Shared context
Why IHARC focuses on these four areas
Local conditions that shape outreach, support, and follow-up.
Housing shortage
Market rents climbed faster than wages and income assistance. Vacancy rates stay near zero, so neighbours without savings face repeated displacement.
- Shelters run at or near capacity through most weeks of the year.
- Landlords and service providers report long waits for supportive housing.
- Without stable housing, health and employment plans stall.
Toxic drug supply
Unregulated street supply now includes unpredictable combinations of opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. This drives high overdose risk.
- Health partners distribute health and safety supplies, overdose response kits, and pathways to treatment every day.
- Drug checking and monitoring data confirm wide swings in potency and mixing.
- People who use drugs report barriers to safe supply and evidence-based treatment.
Justice involvement
Frequent contact with courts, remand, or custody can interrupt health care, support relationships, and housing stability.
- Release planning often happens with short notice, making it hard to align housing supports.
- People miss health appointments or treatment intakes while navigating conditions.
- Community partners must rebuild trust with each return to the street.
Support gaps
Neighbourhood-level outreach, municipal services, and provincial programs do not always have the same information at the same time.
- Families and neighbours struggle to know who to call for each issue.
- Service providers may have to repeat questions before they can help.
- Transport and rural distance make it harder to reach help quickly.