Ontario’s ombudsman is launching an independent investigation into the practice by welfare agencies of housing children in hotels, motels, trailers and offices, and the provincial government’s response to it.
The provincial ombudsman’s office announced its investigation in a news release on Thursday, after “several reports about children being inappropriately housed in these settings.”
“We are aware of numerous incidents across the province of children being placed in these unlicensed settings, many of which have raised some serious concerns about their safety, privacy and comfort,” ombudsman Paul Dubé said in the release.
According to Dubé’s office, some children’s aid societies have said they turn to these settings because they lack better, realistic options, especially in more challenging cases.
WATCH | The problem in the London area last year:
The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of London and Middlesex says it’s run out of placements for youth. It’s had to resort to hotels. Gerry Healy, a crisis intervention specialist with CAS, says something has to change.
While the ombudsman’s office did not offer specific examples, CBC has heard from advocates in the Belleville, London and Windsor areas about a shortage of licensed beds forcing youth into these kinds of settings. CBC has reported on similar pressures in Peel and northeastern Ontario.
The ombudsman’s office looks into complaints from the public and can launch its own investigations into provincial government organizations and other bodies including municipalities, universities and child protection services.