Downtown East Action Plan

History

In 2018, City Council approved an Enhanced 12-month Immediate Action Plan for the Downtown East, which included 36 action items  and directed City staff to develop a longer-term five-year plan.

City staff engaged in broad consultations with the community to understand service needs and priorities and identify gaps. Consultation included community agencies, Business Improvement Areas, and local resident associations, with a focus on people with lived experience of homelessness and those who access services in the area. Read the Summary of Key Consultations in the Downtown East .

In July 2019, the Downtown East Five-year Action Plan was adopted by City Council. The Plan outlined a set of activities and actions under the four central outcomes to coordinate City services and response. Read the Downtown East 2023 Action Plan Summary .

A report on the Downtown East Action Plan – Implementation Progress was adopted by City Council in July 2022.

The 2025-2030 Downtown East Action Plan will be considered at the July 4, 2024 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee, including the July 2022 – December 2023 Action Plan Progress Update.

Progress Highlights

Read the full Downtown East Action Plan 2022 Progress Update, and 2023 Progress Update  or view the highlights below:

• Enhanced outreach and de-escalation teams to support community safety including Here To Help, Crisis Outreach and Support Teams (COAST), and the Community Care Project, providing clean up of  harm reduction supplies
• Continued funding support of $150,000 per year for the Community Engagement Team led by the Downtown Yonge BIA providing response and de-escalation supports in the Yonge Dundas area
• A two-year grant stream to support community projects that advance the Action Plan’s goals
• Enhanced street, laneway and park cleaning
• The continuation of the Downtown East Focus Table and the Church Wellesley Safety Network
• Continued connection with residents, resident associations, BIAs and other community partners to support access to information and training
• A Toronto Downtown East Justice Centre pilot, moving out of a traditional courtroom and into a community setting, connecting high needs individuals with supports and services to prevent cycling through the criminal justice system
• The development of a Downtown East Housing Strategy to increase diverse and affordable housing options
• An annual $150,000 investment to the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area’s Community Engagement Team to support vulnerable individuals and de-escalate situations in the area.
• Partnered with community agencies to offer over 20 free trauma-informed training sessions and equipped more than 1,200 frontline staff to support marginalized individuals.
• Provided $1 million in funding over two years to community agencies and resident groups for projects that align with the Action Plan goals
• 1 million investment to support intervention pilots and provide intensive support for marginalized individuals and explored alternative community-based responses to issue.
• Established effective cross-sectoral communication and collaboration mechanisms, such as the Downtown East Action Plan Leadership Table and the Yonge Dundas Operations Table
• In 2022, with funding from the City, federal, and provincial governments, Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services transformed 17-19 Winchester Street into 35 new apartments with on-site support for women experiencing homelessness.
• In 2022, a supportive housing project at 292-296 Parliament Street opened, providing 24 affordable rental homes and on-site support for those at risk of homelessness, including families and older adults.
• The Toronto Downtown East Justice Centre Pilot transitioned from a traditional courtroom to a community setting, connecting high-needs individuals with support services to prevent further involvement in the criminal justice system.
• In December 2023, launched the Downtown East Lived Experience Advisory Group to ensure ongoing engagement and use firsthand lived and living experiences to improve service planning and evaluation.
• Four Community Safety Teams patrol high-activity areas like Allan Gardens and Yonge/Dundas 24/7 and engage with shelter residents and the community to address safety concerns
• Enhanced laneway cleaning services in areas including Victoria Street, Dundas/Sherbourne, and Queen/Sherbourne to improve cleanliness and safety.

Downtown East Action Plan Initiatives

Downtown East Action Plan Initiatives

Initiative	Service	Contact
Community Outreach And Support Team (COAST)	De-escalation and crisis intervention in response to community concerns	Phone 416-364-2261 Ex. 2226 or 437-335-5916 Hours Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harm Reduction Community Care Project	Collection and disposal of discarded harm reduction supplies, including needles and other sharps, employment opportunities for people with lived and living experience. Partners: PASAN Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services Street Health Toronto Regent Park Community Health Centre	For pick-up request contact Prisoners with HIV/ AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN) Phone 647-446-9560 or 416-920-9567 Ex. 243 Email communitycare@pasan.org Response time is 24 to 48 hours Hours Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Here to Help (H2H)	Mobile conflict reduction and crisis intervention in response to community concerns. Partners: Gerstein Crisis Centre Inner City Family Health Team Homes First Seeds of Hope Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services Service Area: Church Wellesley Corridor (East side of Yonge to West side of Jarvis to Bloor to Carlton) Moss Park (East of Parliament to West of Jarvis to Carlton to Queen St. E)	Phone 416-929-4200 Hours Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Community Planning Networks

Partnerships and collaboration tables in the Downtown East can help to address challenges, share information and resources, and resolve issues.

Name	Description
Downtown East Leadership Table	City Divisions and Toronto Police Services, Toronto Metropolitan University, Ministry of the Attorney General (Justice Centres), Unity Health Oversight and collaboration on responses to chronic issues.
Yonge Dundas Operations Table	City divisions and local community and business partners such as the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area, Coordination of responses and services in response to local issues
Downtown East Ontario Health Team	A network of health and social services partners in the Downtown East. Coordination of inclusive, high-quality and responsive care
Furthering Our Community by Uniting Services (FOCUS)	Partnerships with the City of Toronto, United Way Toronto and Toronto Police Service. Coordinated response to high-risk situations through supports for vulnerable residents.
Community Coordination Plan	Coordination of 45 community-based organizations in the Downtown East.
People With Lived Experience Advisory	People who live, work or access services in the Downtown East advise on actions of phase two of the Downtown East Action Plan.