The City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, officially declared homelessness a humanitarian crisis on February 17, 2026, after local Indigenous leaders called for urgent action during a winter of dangerous cold. Mayor Ken Boshcoff requested a meeting with leadership from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Fort William First Nation to discuss the life-threatening conditions facing people living outside. Mayor Boshcoff, who is serving his final term and will not seek re-election in 2026, noted that the risk to life is real when people are forced to sleep in extreme weather.
Indigenous leaders originally called for a state of emergency on January 24, 2026, when wind chills reached as low as -45C. While a formal state of emergency was not declared, the city and Indigenous partners have formed a new leadership table to work together on housing solutions. This group includes members from the city, local First Nations, and the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board.
A recent count found that 652 people are currently experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, which is an increase from 557 people in late 2024. Data shows that about 78 per cent of the people currently without a home identify as Indigenous. This increase has added urgency to the city’s efforts to provide safer shelter options.
The City of Thunder Bay is launching a 10-part plan that includes an Encampment Response Team and a new village of temporary homes. This project is expected to open in the spring of 2026 and involves a five-year investment of more than $15 million. The city hopes these steps will provide immediate help for those living in outdoor camps.
City Manager John Collin explained that a local state of emergency does not automatically provide new funding or housing from other levels of government. Instead, the humanitarian declaration is meant to recognize the serious risks in the community. The city intends to use the declaration to help advocate for sustained investment in housing and support services from the provincial and federal governments.
