101 Placer Crt.

• Call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766, 1-877-338-3398 toll-free

During COVID-19, temporary shelter and respite sites may not have space to accommodate walk-in referrals. Calling Central Intake in advance is recommended to minimize unnecessary travel in keeping with physical distancing guidelines provided by Toronto Public Health.

In 2018, in response to increased demand for shelter services, City Council directed Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) to expand the number of permanent new shelter beds in Toronto by 1,000.  In 2020, this funding was changed to include both housing and shelter projects and renamed to Housing & Shelter Infrastructure Development (HSID) project.

101 Placer Court was chosen as a shelter site as part of this Council direction as it met all requirements and is permitted for shelter use to provide temporary accommodation and related support services that assist people to move into housing.

Homes First Society is operating and leading shelter services at this site. Homes First Society has been providing supportive housing and shelter services for over 35 years. They are one of the largest providers of services to people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.

Homes First front-line Community Shelter Workers assist shelter residents through intake, and provide referrals, crisis management, trauma-informed care, harm reduction supports, and general day-to-day support.

Homes First’s Intensive Case Management (ICM) teams include Housing Help Workers and Life Skills Workers. This ICM team also includes a Community Engagement & Programs Coordinator whose role is to develop engaging programing and partnerships for residents, as well as to respond to external community questions and concerns.

The shelter also provides primary care and health care supports from external agencies.

The shelter will provide a community space for programming, events, community partners, workshops and volunteer engagement. In person community events are currently not permitted under public health guidance.

Community safety is a priority for the City whenever new services open. Ongoing safety planning will be a key component of the community engagement process. Homes First staff bring management practices that have proven successful and all staff are trained on de-escalation, conflict resolution and crisis prevention, intervention and management.

The following safety measures are in place at 101 Placer to support the shelter residents and community:

• Regular rounds of the property by staff to ensure the safety of the residents and to ensure that the grounds are kept safe and clean.
• Homes First shelter resident clean-up crew will go out multiple times per week to do a sweep of the property and surrounding area.
• Option to establish Community Liaison Meetings to provide a space for community stakeholders to address concerns, talk with City representatives and Toronto Police, and provide an avenue for solutions to reduce negative impact or safety concerns.
• Controlled access to building by Homes First staff.
• Internal and external cameras installed around the building and at all entrance points.

It is important to remember that people using shelter services are equal citizens of the city. They can move around communities and use amenities such as parks and public benches like all residents in our collective city. And like all residents, they are also expected to conduct themselves within the rules/laws and by-laws.

We expect shelter residents to be respectful community members and follow what Homes First describes as a “Good Neighbour Policy” which is outlined to residents upon intake. This policy is informed by feedback from community stakeholders in the area and failure to follow these expectations can result in temporary or permanent discharge from the shelter.

The non-emergency police number at 416-808-2222 | 416-467-0493 (TTY) should be used to report crimes where no person is in immediate danger (for example, theft, vandalism, fraud). In an emergency, call 911 (for example, crimes in progress, fires.)

The City’s community engagement and planning process for shelters is focused on how communities can support and improve the success of the new service, and not the specific location of the site.

The City has hired a community engagement team who has been gathering input from the community and sharing information about the shelter program at 101 Placer Court.

The community engagement plan includes:

• Reviewing and responding to feedback on key issues from the community
• Project updates and outreach as required
• Virtual stakeholder meetings for representatives of local resident associations, businesses, institutions and community groups
• Option to establish a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) or other activities

Community Outreach

The community engagement team (Dept of Words & Deeds, led by facilitator Jane Farrow) has been reaching out to and meeting with local organizations, businesses, residents and community groups to answer questions, respond to concerns and gauge interest in forming a Community Liaison Committee. Because of physical distancing restrictions, the majority of engagement events have been and will continue to be online and over the phone rather than in person.  For questions, comments or concerns, and/or express interest in the Community Liaison Committee, community members are encouraged to contact:

Jane Farrow, Dept of Words & Deeds
clc.101placercourt@gmail.com
437-522-9510

Community Liaison Committee (CLC)

A Community Liaison Committee may be set up to provide a link between the staff at the site and the broader community. The role of the CLC will be to:

• foster and maintain positive relationships between the community, the service operator, and service partners to support the successful transition of the shelter into the community
• facilitate information sharing and dialogue
• identify and address any issues, concerns and opportunities related to building operations

Capacity is reduced to 51 beds to operate in accordance with COVID-19 infection, prevention and control measures, including physical distancing requirements.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has implemented a number of measures to protect people across the shelter system. This includes:

• encouraging physical distancing in all areas of the shelter
• ensuring physical distancing of at least 2-metres laterally between beds in order to meet City shelter standards
• ensuring the mandatory use of face coverings or masks
• encouraging healthy habits such as hand washing
• conducting symptom screening
• increasing infection control and prevention measures such as enhanced cleaning
• investing in initiatives to improve ventilation
• providing isolation and recovery sites for individuals who are awaiting results or test positive to recover
• conducting ongoing vaccination of individuals staying in the shelter system and encampments and front-line staff.

For a full list of COVID-19 measures implemented to enhance health and safety in shelters, visit Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Toronto Shelter System