This fall, Toronto’s Streets to Homes is ramping up to help even more people leave the streets behind. In the next few weeks you may notice more street outreach workers engaging with people sleeping on the streets or panhandling throughout the downtown area. This follows Council approval in late spring to enhance the program to help all street-involved people, including people who are homeless and living outdoors, people who stay in shelters at night but who are on the streets during the day, and people who are housed and panhandling. Previously, Streets to Homes had a mandate to serve only people sleeping outside.

“We know that a social service response can help those who are involved with the streets to improve their lives,” says Phil Brown, General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the City division responsible for social housing and services for homeless people. “With enhanced services available, we are better able to meet our goal of ending homelessness, not just managing it.”

2,100 housed and growing
Streets to Homes has been housing people since Council approved a “housing-first” strategy in February 2005. Since then, City staff, working closely with a growing number of community agencies, have housed more than 2,100 people who had previously been sleeping outdoors. Research indicates that almost 90% remain housed. Clients choose where they live, with many new homes being found in the private-sector rental market. The only three rules are that clients must agree to accept follow-up services for at least a year, to have their rent paid directly to landlords, and to be on the waiting list for social housing.

Expanded hours: more outreach
The number of staff working directly with clients has more than tripled to 34 (with more part time hiring underway), including street outreach workers and counsellors, experts working with youth, and others specializing in keeping people housed. Service hours have been expanded as well, with staff available seven days a week, 7 am to 10 pm, compared to the previous 8:30 am to 4:30 pm five-day work week. The downtown area is defined as Bathurst to Parliament, Bloor-Yorkville to the lake. When fully staffed, the enhanced Streets to Homes program will employ 72 fulltime equivalents, compared to the previous 24.

Streets to Homes is a citywide service. For areas outside the downtown, there are two mobile services ready to respond to panhandling issues, with the existing non-profit street outreach teams continuing to assist people living outdoors.

Where does the money come from?
Funding for the program comes from all orders of government. The federal government’s Homelessness Partnership Initiative funds much of the all-important follow-up services, as well as other resources to the Streets to Homes program. The province of Ontario’s Ministry of Community and Employment & Social Services makes non-profit street outreach possible outside the downtown core. The City of Toronto funds the vital function of street outreach by City staff in the downtown core.

Governments are investing because the program is meeting its goal of helping some of the most vulnerable Torontonians to realize better health, feel more optimistic, and make better use of community resources. Statistically valid post-occupancy research of clients in housing thanks to Streets to Homes clearly demonstrates that clients are satisfied with their housing, feel that having a permanent home has changed their lives, and say their quality of life has improved. Clients also report using less alcohol and other drugs. The full report is available on the web.

The program is acknowledged as one of the best housing programs in the world by the UN’s World Habitat Awards, and is a national and international best practice. More than a dozen awards have recognized Streets to Homes for both the substance and quality of the program in the areas of housing, health and public policy.

Next steps
As front line staff work Toronto’s streets and squares, work is well underway to test a central phone number that will direct street outreach workers to people in need. This will be available shortly.