The resources below are intended to support organizations in creating welcoming, inclusive environments that promote health, safety, dignity, and equitable access to services for people experiencing homelessness.
Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) has created the following online modules to help staff better understand the lived experience of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in Toronto and offer guidance on how to engage with Indigenous people using trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive approaches. Originally created for the 2024 Street Needs Assessment, all staff are encouraged to complete the training to support ongoing development. The modules can be completed across multiple sittings.
The following resources have been developed by Dr. Alex Abramovich, Senior Scientist from the Institute of Mental Health Policy Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to help staff better understand gender identify and sexual orientation and support 2SLGBTQ+ clients:
Justice Laws provides online access to official copies of Canada’s statutes and regulations.
e-Laws provides online access to official copies of Ontario’s statutes and regulations.
The Toronto Municipal Code is a compilation of by-laws organized by subject (e.g., animals, smoking, property standards, fences).
The Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) recognizes that each of us has a responsibility for the welfare of children and a duty to report.
The Toronto Housing Charter is a key component of the Housing Opportunities Toronto HOT Action Plan 2010-2020, adopted by City Council August 5, 2009.
The Charter is designed to guide Council and staff in their efforts to assist those who often face challenges finding affordable housing, from newcomers and single parents to seniors and those with disabilities.HOT contains 67 recommended actions to be undertaken by the City of Toronto and the federal and provincial governments. It calls for new investment of $484 million annually for the next 10 years to help 257,700 households struggling with high housing costs or inadequate accommodation.HOT will serve as a road map to guide federal and provincial investments, as well as public and private sector activity.
The Housing Stability Service Planning Framework for Toronto Shelter and Support Services (formerly Shelter, Support and Housing Administration) was unanimously approved by Toronto City Council in December 2013.
Learn about Canada's food guides and find tools and resources (including translated versions and versions tailored for Indigenous communities) to help support healthy food choices.
Each province has its own provincial health acts and regulations. In Ontario, the Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990 (HPPA) lays out the mandate to make regulations, programs and protocols which govern food premises. All health units/departments are responsible for the conditions and safety under which food is held, prepared and served to the public. This is also the responsibility of the food premises owner/operator and employees.
Read more about the Food Safety: A Guide for Ontario's Food Handlers.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guide for Homelessness Service Settings provides information and recommendations for homelessness service providers and workers on infection prevention and control (IPAC). IPAC is the use of evidence-based practices that when applied consistently, can reduce the risk of the spread of germs. Toronto Public Health has posted this document along with several supporting resources for the benefit of any homelessness service setting, like 24-Hour Respite Sites, drop-ins, etc.
It is important for homelessness service providers to understand TB. Homelessness service settings can often increase the chances of spreading TB. Read:
Bed bugs are a pest and are common in transient populations. Bed bugs are found in hotels, motels, apartment buildings, rooming houses, dormitories and shelters. Read the full Bed bugs handbook for shelter operators.
These resources equip shelter and community service providers with practical tools, guidance, and educational resources to support safer substance use practices, overdose prevention and response, policy development, and staff capacity building.
While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our content, please email Adriana.Dyla@toronto.ca.
The Harm Reduction and Overdose Preparedness Site Assessment Tool accompanies the site assessment process. To schedule an assessment, contact Adriana.Dyla@toronto.ca.
The following harm reduction policy templates and guidance documents have been created to provide shelter providers with examples and resources to inform the critical elements that should be included in their policies and procedures. This will ensure that a harm reduction lense and approach is applied to all aspects of client care and service delivery across the homelessness sector.
The materials below are available for download and printing:
To support your engagement with people with lived experience in harm reduction planning, design and work:
Information on where to access harm reduction supplies, including the onboarding process with The Works to become a harm reduction partner (i.e. for harm reduction supplies and naloxone to distribute to clients)
A death of a shelter resident is considered reportable to Toronto Shelter and Support Services. Learn how to properly document and report an incident by reading the Reporting the Death of a Shelter Resident Guidebook.
SMIS related resources are designed to assist SMIS users. SMIS eliminates time-consuming manual tasks and paper forms, streamlining certain administrative functions of homelessness service providers and improving client services.
Records containing personal information may be disclosed to police officers or other law enforcement agents under Section 32 (g) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
City staff must follow the steps outlined in this document when completing the Law Enforcement Request for Personal Information Form. The form is used to provide access to records containing personal information to law enforcement agencies, while still protecting the rights of our clients
The Environmental Control Best Practices helps homelessness service providers in Toronto implement the means to proactively reduce TB transmission risk by the use of environmental control measures.
The Housekeeping Manual for Municipally Operated Shelters provides guidelines regarding the provision of housekeeping services in MOS with the objective of ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment for staff, clients and the public. It is also intended to help MOS meet requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Toronto Shelter Standards.
Toronto Public Health has posted this document along with several supporting resources, which contain specific guidance around cleaning and disinfection for the benefit of any homelessness service setting, like 24-Hour Respite Sites, drop-ins, etc.
Bed bugs are a pest and are common in transient populations. Bed bugs are found in hotels, motels, apartment buildings, rooming houses, dormitories and shelters. Read the full Bed bugs handbook for shelter operators.
The Shelter Design and Technical Guidelines provide best practices to assist those designing, building or renovating shelters in Toronto. The Guidelines are intended to respond to the evolving needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, and enhance positive outcomes for shelter users, staff, visitors and communities surrounding new and renovated shelters.
Recommendations in the Guidelines span a broad range of areas from design principles to functional components of the building, environmental design, materials and finishes. They were launched in 2021 after a collaborative process with a wide range of stakeholders, including Indigenous people, Black people, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+, individuals with accessibility needs, and youth experiencing homelessness.
The Shelter Design and Technical Guidelines is a living document intended to be reviewed and updated periodically based on ongoing consultation with service users and other key stakeholders.
This information sheet explains the use of police reference checks (PRC) as part of the hiring process for the City’s Toronto Shelter and Support Services division. City Council authorized the use of a PRC as an assessment tool when hiring people or placing volunteers/students to work directly with homeless individuals and families.