Location: 629 Adelaide St. W.
Client Group: Adults (18 and over)
Number of Expected Spaces: 50
Expected Opening Date: Fall 2024
Service Operator: St. Felix Centre
With support from the City of Toronto, St. Felix Centre will open a shelter at 629 Adelaide St. W. in fall 2024 for people experiencing homelessness. The site is a relocation of the program operated by St. Felix Centre at 25 Augusta Ave., which closed in July 2023 to be converted into new affordable housing.
The program will open with 50 spaces, and will provide comprehensive case management and programming supports for all clients, with a focus on helping people secure permanent housing.
The City held a virtual community information session on November 22, 2023 to allow neighbours to ask questions and learn more about the service.
A report has been prepared that outlines community engagement activities related to the new shelter site that took place in October and November 2023. It outlines a summary of different meetings, including the Community Information Session, along with questions that have been asked by members of the community.
The site at 629 Adelaide St. W. will be operated by St. Felix Centre – a registered charity that provides compassionate and safe services to marginalized communities who are experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and other complex challenges. St. Felix Centre has previous experience managing City-funded programs in downtown Toronto.
The site will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide critical shelter and wrap-around support services that aim to help individuals experiencing homelessness stabilize their lives, improve life skills, address needs and goals, and move toward securing permanent housing and independence.
Services will include:
The shelter at 629 Adelaide St. W. is a relocation of the respite program operated by St. Felix Centre at 25 Augusta Ave. which closed in July 2023 to be converted into new affordable housing. While the locations was originally envisioned to serve as a 24-hour respite site, it will now open as an emergency shelter for single adults of all genders. A variety of factors influenced the change to the service model, including community feedback, available budget, and a further assessment of the layout and square footage of the space.
To be considered as a potential new shelter service, sites must:
In November 2021, Toronto City Council adopted a report that authorized the City to enter into new or amend existing agreements with landlords in order to maintain or add new respite or shelter beds. This step was taken to allow the City to open or relocate shelter programs quickly to respond to shelter system pressures and ensure the City can provide critical shelter services and support to as many people as possible.
The City remains committed to working with the community to address any questions or concerns regarding the new site.
The City is committed to engaging the community to support the program’s success – both for the individuals who will be staying there and the surrounding community.
The City has hired a Community Engagement Facilitator, Barnes Management Group, to lead and manage community engagement for 629 Adelaide St. W. A number of initiatives are currently underway or being planned to ensure community members are kept informed of the services and support at the site, including:
Questions or concerns about the site can be sent to: 629AdelaideStW@gmail.com
The City is committed to the safety and security of residents, staff and the broader community, and working together to ensure the success of the site.
The City and Barnes Management Group have been meeting with key stakeholders, including Toronto Police Service, to share information and discuss community safety. Work is underway to support a school safety plan led by St. Mary’s Catholic school.
The building will be equipped with access control and video surveillance systems. A Community Safety Team will also patrol the area 24/7 to address safety issues. Assessments of the site have been done and will continually be reviewed.
The site will be staffed 24/7 by individuals who are trained in de-escalation, conflict resolution, crisis prevention, intervention and management, and harm reduction services and support. All team members are trained to respond to immediate non-police or non-EMS-related matters when made aware by the community.
The City will also be establishing a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) where representatives from the local community (e.g., condo boards, resident associations, businesses or local community organizations) can meet regularly with St. Felix representatives to share information, ask questions, and work together to problem solve community concerns.