Location: 1615 Dufferin St.
Demographic: Youth
Anticipated capacity: 50 people
Estimated opening date: 2027
The City of Toronto has secured 1615 Dufferin St. for use as a municipal shelter that will provide critical services to help youth experiencing homelessness move toward permanent housing.
The shelter is part of the City’s Council-approved Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy, which aims to open up to 20 new shelters citywide by 2033. These sites will help respond to demand and stabilize the shelter system. Learn more about the Strategy.
The City is committed to working with the local community to support the success of the site and has hired Community Engagement Facilitator Public Progress to lead engagement. If you are interested in receiving e-updates as the project progresses, please send an email to 1615dufferin@gmail.com.
Homelessness is experienced in all corners of Toronto. Shelters are needed across the city to support people who are facing an immediate housing crisis and may be staying in parks, or other public spaces, to get the services they need to find and secure housing.
Staff assessed 100 sites across Toronto, including seven properties in Davenport, to determine if they met the City’s criteria for shelter use.
There are a limited number of available areas in Toronto that meet the size, budget and zoning requirements needed to be a municipal shelter. Shelters are not allowed in areas zoned exclusively for employment or industrial uses and are typically located in residential areas, often close to libraries, schools, community centres and health care services.
City Council has delegated authority to staff to approve and develop new locations for shelters and 24-hour respite sites. This is to ensure the City can work quickly to respond to shelter system pressures and provide critical supports to as many people as possible. It also helps to accelerate and depoliticize the shelter development process, which is consistent with a human-rights based approach to housing and related services for vulnerable residents.
The shelter at 1615 Dufferin St. will serve approximately 50 youth and will be purpose-built to meet their needs and integrate into the surrounding community. Learn more about new shelter design.
All shelter sites are staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week and offer outcome-focused supports to help clients improve their well-being and stabilize their lives.
Services will include:
Referrals to the program will be made through the City’s telephone-based Central Intake service.
At this time, the City is working to confirm a service provider. More information will be posted once the operator is selected.
The City is committed to working with the community to support the success of the site.
The City has hired Community Engagement Facilitator Public Progress to lead the community engagement process. This includes providing ongoing shelter updates, responding to questions and working collaboratively with the City and local community members to collectively problem-solve concerns that may arise.
Should you wish to receive e-updates as the project progresses, or have site specific questions, please email 1615dufferin@gmail.com.