“We’re Not Okay”: Ontario’s Most Vulnerable Living in Tents and Exploited into Crime

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Toronto, ON – Leaders in Ontario’s developmental services sector are raising urgent concerns about a system they say is in crisis, with more than 53,000 Ontarians currently on provincial waitlists for critical supports.

In Sudbury on Tuesday, local leaders reported individuals with developmental disabilities are experiencing homelessness and exploitation, including involvement in crime and human trafficking. “What we are seeing in Sudbury is deeply concerning but it is not unique,” says Beesley. “Front-line workers are describing people with intellectual disabilities in tent encampments in harsh conditions, some having their tents stolen, with many others facing heightened vulnerability to crime, jail, and human trafficking.

News Conference Today, March 4, 2026

Developmental Services Responds to Escalating Homeless Crisis for People with Intellectual Disabilities

10:30a.m.

Community Living Ontario Head Office

#201, 1 Valleybrook Drive

Toronto, ON

After more than three decades of chronic underfunding by successive governments, sector representatives warn that service gaps are leaving some of Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens at serious risk. While many Ontarians believe people with developmental disabilities are adequately supported, provincial leaders say the reality is stark.

“We’re not okay,” says Chris Beesley, CEO of Community Living Ontario. “Across Ontario, including in Toronto, individuals with developmental disabilities are waiting decades for housing, critical supports, and essential services that allow them to live safely and with dignity. The system is stretched beyond its limits.”

“People with developmental disabilities are telling us they feel forgotten,” says Niko Pupella, President of the CLO Council. “I was homeless for a year and a half and it was a very hard time in my life. We want what every Ontarian wants, a safe home, meaningful supports, and the chance to contribute to their communities. Right now, too many are being left at risk.”

“This is not about pointing fingers,” Beesley added. “We are continuing to work with MCCSS and the provincial government to find long term solutions but we need to let people know in Ontario that there are people with intellectual disabilities living in tents and being exploited into crime and human trafficking. We will continue to work together to ensure people with developmental disabilities are not left behind, but we need to act now.”

Media Contact: Teresa Kruze
(416) 727-8145
tkruze@rogers.com

Breaking Point: Data Reveals Urgent Need for Action on Poverty and Exploitation

Poverty

  • 28% of adults with severe disabilities living alone have incomes below the poverty line (Statistics Canada, 2022)
  • Inclusion Canada has said that 73% of people with intellectual disabilities living apart from family have incomes below the poverty line (Inclusion Canada, 2024)
  • Any single person relying on ODSP lives under the poverty line – ODSP provides a maximum of $17,000 per year, whereas the poverty line is around $28,000 (so, even with Passport and the CDB they will still be in poverty)

Homelessness

  • In the GTA, one in five shelter users has a developmental disability (Source)
  • Other sources put the number between 12% and 35% (while the group accounts for 2% or less of the population)

Crime

  • People with Intellectual Disabilities have been drawn into drug distribution rings, theft rings, and have had their apartments taken over.
  • People with developmental disabilities make up 17% of all forensic inpatients in Ontario (i.e. where mental illness is a factor in crime), 8% of people in community mental health justice programs, and 2% of provincial and federal correctional facility inmates.

Victimization

  • In Canada, the rate of violent victimization (i.e., sexual assault, robbery, physical assault) against women with cognitive disabilities (which include learning, intellectual and memory disabilities) is four times higher than for those without a disability.
  • Women and girls who have an intellectual disability are at high risk of abuse and trafficking due to various factors including a lack of access to services; social marginalization, stereotyping, and discrimination; social isolation; fear of losing supports and resources; and low educational attainment and unemployment.
  • While there aren’t figures re: trafficking in Canada (it is very difficult to track), we (a) understand the factors connected to risk for trafficking, and (b) see that people (and especially women) with intellectual disabilities experience those risk factors to an alarming extent.

Community Living Ontario is a non-profit organization that advocates for people who have an intellectual disability and their families. For more than 70 years, the organization has worked to create inclusive communities where everyone belongs, through education, advocacy, and collaboration with government and community partners. 

OASIS (Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs) represents more than 190 member agencies across the province that provide vital services to people with developmental disabilities. Together, OASIS members serve tens of thousands of Ontarians and employ over 25,000 staff dedicated to promoting inclusion and independence.