Ontario's ombudsman is launching an investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers.
Paul Dubé announced the investigation Thursday, saying there have been several reports of children being inappropriately housed in those settings and they raise serious concerns about privacy, safety and comfort.
He says some children's aid societies have said the use of those unlicensed settings is a "last resort" when there is a lack of appropriate housing options, particularly when it comes to kids with special needs or challenging behaviours.