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NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The City of Niagara Falls has initiated development of an Unhoused Action Plan 2026, a strategic initiative to strengthen the municipality’s support for unhoused and vulnerable residents. As part of this work, the City is inviting residents to provide feedback that will help shape the plan’s direction and priorities.
At the October 7, 2025, City Council meeting, Council endorsed a motion calling for a more coordinated and proactive response to challenges related to homelessness, hunger, public drug use, illegal activity, and disruptive behaviour in public spaces. While current efforts focus largely on maintenance, cleanup, public safety, and other reactive measures, the new Action Plan will aim to review current actions and align these within a more comprehensive, mission-driven framework.
The initiative will be led by Ken Todd, former Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Niagara Falls, whose proven leadership and long-standing commitment to the community will help shape the plan.
“We know that there are more people in need and more people accepting help than ever in Niagara Falls. I’ve seen the landscape of people experiencing homelessness change over time but it hasn’t gotten better, despite the efforts of all of our agencies. We know we can do better and there have already been so many people and groups who have already reached out wanting to be a part of the solution.” - Ken Todd, Lead, Unhoused Action Plan
“We need to try something that hasn’t been done before. A small population of people are in need in our community and what we have been doing to help them, has not been working. Residents and families have parks, trails, public spaces and see local businesses in their neighbourhoods which have become sites where vulnerable people are engaging in addictive, disruptive, disrespectful and even criminal behaviour. Those who need it are clearly not getting the help they need, and what is more, our public spaces have felt uncomfortable, unusable and unsafe for families and neighbours to enjoy. Our aim is to have a good look at what we’ve been doing and work together with our service providers to meet people who need assistance upstream to make a difference where it matters most.” -Mayor Jim Diodati
“Though it’s not a lower-tier City responsibility, Niagara Falls has been funding support for the challenges in our community for a number of years. We need to ensure taxpayer dollars are driving maximum results. We need to do more than just clean up the mess left behind. We have tools, we need to use them in the best possible way to help the situation.” - Jason Burgess, CAO
A Community-Informed Approach
Public input will play a central role in shaping the Action Plan, which will outline a clear mission, identify priorities, and recommend practical actions to streamline resources and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents.
The City encourages residents to provide suggestions related to:
- Homelessness
- Hunger
- Drug use in public spaces
- Illegal activity
- Disrespectful behaviour in public places
Feedback on how the City can improve service delivery, coordination, and overall support for vulnerable individuals is also welcome.
Opportunities for Participation
Residents are invited to submit comments, ideas, and recommendations at letstalk.niagarafalls.ca/unhoused-action-plan-2026 through the online feedback form until February 1, 2026. All input collected will inform recommendations brought forward to City Council in June 2026.
An Open House will also be held in Winter 2026, providing an additional opportunity for the public to learn more and engage directly with City staff and the team on the plan. Event details will be announced in early 2026.
Action Plan Timeline
- October 7, 2025: Motion to develop the Action Plan approved by Council
- November 17, 2025: Public engagement period opens
- February 1, 2026: Public engagement period closes
- Winter 2026: Public Open House (details forthcoming)
- June 2026: Recommendations presented to City Council
Together, these steps mark the beginning of a more aligned, effective approach to addressing the challenges facing our community.
For more information, please contact:
Carey Campbell
Office of the Mayor and CAO
City of Niagara Falls
[email protected]
