66 Norfinch Drive

Building facade of 66 Norfinch Drive, Toronto
Building facade of 66 Norfinch Drive, Toronto

Location: 66 Norfinch Drive
Shelter residents: All genders
Number of spaces: Up to 200
Opened: December 2022
Service operator: The Salvation Army

66 Norfinch Drive is an emergency shelter that provides temporary accommodations and wrap-around supports to adults experiencing homelessness. The site was leased by The Salvation Army to support the relocation of shelter programs from 30 Norfinch Drive, which closed so that the property owner could resume hotel operations in 2023.

66 Norfinch Drive is currently serving as the relocation site for Florence Booth House, whose permanent location is undergoing major renovations. The site is also helping to address the high demand for shelter by providing much needed shelter space.

Operated by The Salvation Army, the shelter program at 66 Norfinch Drive uses a housing first approach to assist residents to secure permanent, affordable and safe housing with service connections in the community.

The site is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides wrap-around supports, including:

  • all meals and laundry
  • access to harm reduction supplies and supports to reduce potential harms related to substance use
  • onsite case managers and Housing Help workers
  • recreational and social engagement programming
  • access to mental and physical health supports
  • Chaplaincy support

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

The City has hired a third party Community Engagement Facilitator from Department of Words & Deeds, to lead a community engagement process for this site in alignment with the City Council-approved engagement process.

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 if requested
  • Option to establish a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) or other activities

Community Outreach

The Community Engagement 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 (CLC). Due to physical distancing restrictions, the majority of engagement events have been and will continue to be online and over the phone. For questions, comments or concerns about 66 Norfinch Drive, and/or to express interest in the Community Liaison Committee, community members are encouraged to contact Jane Farrow.