Your Vote in the Fight Against Hunger: Where I Stand

I saw Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank's Hunger Action Month post asking voters to consider where municipal candidates stand on income supports, housing, living wages and homelessness. Thank you for raising these important questions.

As the founder of Local Food for Local Good and a candidate for Mayor, I hold this call to action close to my heart.

Food insecurity is a symptom of broader systemic gaps, and Hunger Action Month reminds us that we must go beyond stop-gap measures to tackle the root causes: poverty, inadequate income, and the lack of stable housing.

Here is how I plan to take real action on these critical issues as an elected official:

Provincial Advocacy (OW / ODSP): Municipalities cannot solve these crises in silos. As Mayor, I will sit at the Northumberland County Council table and actively advocate to the provincial government for meaningful increases to Ontario Works and ODSP rates. Social assistance must reflect the actual cost of living.

Accelerating Affordable Housing: With 1,305 households waitlisted and only 60 housed in 2025, we need more supportive, cooperative and rent-geared-to-income housing. I'll push County Council to turn Taskforce recommendations into action and move identified lands toward construction. I’ll also challenge our region to get creative about how we build affordable housing through models such as housing land trusts and public-private partnerships.

Economic Support & Living Wages: Local government must lead by example and convene partners to promote economic resilience. I am committed to creating a robust local economy that attracts stable, good-paying jobs and exploring social enterprise models that provide life skills, employment, and income security for those struggling to make ends meet.

Fighting Homelessness: We must pivot from costly emergency responses to lasting solutions. That means shovel-ready projects that get housing in place for seniors at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and an integrated model of healthcare and housing that brings together recovery, treatment, mental health support, and on-site wraparound care across the region so people get help before reaching crisis.

Stronger Regional Advocacy: I will bring the voices of our front-line workers, food security agencies, and vulnerable neighbours directly to the County and Provincial tables, demanding income support structures like enhanced ODSP/OW rates and living wages that keep up with inflation. I will also commit to supporting the work of Northumberland policy tables such as the Food Policy Council.

True progress requires compassion, accountability, and a willingness to cooperate across all levels of government. Let's build a Northumberland where everyone has a safe place to live and reliable access to healthy food.