Liam Nichols, the Chair of the Whitby Public Library Board, submitted the following letter in support of the Ontario Big City Mayors' Solve the Crisis campaign.
On behalf of the Whitby Public Library Board, I am writing to reaffirm our support for the Ontario Big City Mayors' Solve the Crisis campaign. Our Library is acutely aware that escalating costs and strained services are making the homelessness, mental health, and addiction crises more profound with every passing day. We know this because we see it. The Library, like all public libraries across province and the country, has increasingly found itself acting as a frontline service provider in areas that fall outside our mandate and expertise. The homelessness rate rose by 267%, from 92 people in November 2024 to 338 in June 2026, increasing demand for housing and placing growing pressure on limited community resources.
Libraries in Ontario are primarily funded by municipalities, and in Whitby that means our funding relies on the residential tax base. Growing demands for security services, staff training, and employee supports are putting additional pressure on already stretched budgets.
We are mindful of not wanting to further stigmatize those struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, and we remain committed to serving all members of our community. Library staff work hard to build relationships with patrons and connect them to services they may need. It is heartbreaking to reach closing time on a January evening knowing that every shelter bed is full and that a patron has nowhere to go but back out into the cold. As a society, we can and must do better.
We are once again calling on the provincial and federal governments to work together to provide comprehensive solutions backed by adequate funding. This should include housing and treatment options that give people access to the support they need. Addressing this crisis with the urgency and resources it demands is imperative.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Respectfully
Liam Nichols, Chair, Whitby Public Library Board