The following programs have been approved to deliver services starting October 1. All applications were carefully evaluated by the City’s Housing Secretariat through a comprehensive review process.
The Homelessness Prevention funding opportunity is made up of the following categories: Eviction Prevention and Shelter Diversion.
Eviction prevention programs support tenants at risk of homelessness by providing immediate, short-term supports to sustain tenancies. These projects work directly with housing providers and any other service providers that may be engaged with the tenant, such as the Landlord and Tenant Board and income maintenance programs. Services are provided with a Housing First approach.
Shelter diversion is an early intervention approach aimed at preventing homelessness. Shelter diversion programs work with low-income households at risk of homelessness, including individuals pending discharge from hospitals and correctional facilities, youth aging out of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS), newcomers to Canada and those displaced from housing due to unexpected incidents (i.e. fire or unsafe premises). Where appropriate, individuals and households seeking emergency shelter services will be assisted with immediate re-housing supports and stabilization assistance. Services are provided with a Housing First approach.
If you are interested in learning more about the services that will be offered or if your organization would like to collaborate by initiating a formal or informal partnership, please contact the organizations above directly. Contact information for each organization can be found on the organization’s website.
Eviction Prevention Eligibility & Service Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Successful applicants provide responsive and timely interventions to tenants at imminent risk of eviction (i.e. the tenant has received some form of communication or notice from the landlord) to help them sustain their tenancies.
Service Delivery Requirements
Eviction prevention staff members must have:
- the skills and expertise to respond and mobilize quickly to provide tenants with immediate, short-term support, including coordination, mediation and connection to services and/or benefits
- extensive knowledge of and experience in housing work, conflict resolution and mediation
- a strong understanding of community resources and referral pathways
Eviction prevention programs must:
- provide responsive and person-centered case management services that meet each person’s unique needs and/or complex challenges
- provide non-judgmental, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive services rooted in harm reduction and Housing First approaches
- deliver services in person, including travelling to meet with people in their housing units, accompanying people to other service providers and conducting services after hours and on weekends when necessary
- receive service request referrals from the City of Toronto and/or other designated central referral sources identified by the City
- implement rapid, wrap-around, short-term case management tools and practices to ensure individualized plans prevent pending eviction and sustain tenancies
- support capacity building by providing individuals and households with information and support around system navigation within community and government agencies
- build and maintain relationships with housing providers in communities across Toronto, including landlord outreach and engagement
- provide preventive measures, including education and support around rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and other relevant legislation pertaining to housing
- ensure post-intervention follow-up is completed at three months and any other time period prescribed
- participate in City committees and working groups, if or as required
- compile, maintain and provide program statistics and submit activity data and program outcomes, as required
- advance the City’s funding priorities, including:
- strengthening our relationship with Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation
- focusing on equity
- delivering high quality services
- reducing chronic homelessness
- developing integrated system responses,
- strengthening and modernizing the sector
Shelter Diversion Eligibility & Service Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Successful applicants provide immediate re-housing support to people who are precariously housed, experiencing an emergency or pending discharge from a public institution (e.g. correctional facilities, CAS, hospital, etc.) and provide timely coordination services, connection to community supports and/or benefits, and housing search assistance.
Service Delivery Requirements
Shelter diversion staff members must:
- provide responsive and timely interventions for people referred for shelter diversion services, including:
- triage
- assessment and intake
- system navigation
- resources
- immediate re-housing
Shelter diversion programs must:
- provide responsive and person-centered case management services that meet each person’s unique needs and/or complex challenges
- provide non-judgemental, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive services rooted in harm reduction and Housing First approaches
- deliver services in person, including travelling to meet with people in their housing units, accompanying people to other service providers and conducting services after hours and on weekends when necessary
- adhere to service response standards and/or service levels from the City of Toronto, and/or other designated central referral sources identified by the City. This may include responding to emergency displacement situations (e.g. individuals and households displaced from their housing due to fires or floods)
- build and maintain relationships with housing providers in communities across Toronto, including landlord outreach and engagement
- support capacity building by providing individuals and households with information and support around system navigation within community and government agencies
- coordinate information gathering and respond to emergency and non-emergency situations
- ensure post-intervention follow-up is completed at three months and any other time period prescribed
- participate in City committees and working groups, if or as required
- compile, maintain and provide program statistics and submitting activity data and program outcomes as required
- advance the City’s funding priorities, including:
- strengthening our relationship with Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation
- focusing on equity
- delivering high quality services
- reducing chronic homelessness
- developing integrated system responses
- strengthening and modernizing the sector