2 Buttonwood Ave.

Location: 2 Buttonwood Ave.
Demographic: Women with children
Anticipated capacity: Up to 96 families
Opening date: Late 2026

The City of Toronto has secured 2 Buttonwood Ave. for use as a family shelter to help women experiencing homelessness and their children gain stability and work toward permanent housing. The program will open gradually, starting with approximately 24 families and expanding to support up to 96 families over time.

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 Joe Mihevc to lead engagement. More information can be found in the Working with the Community tab below.

Upcoming Community Drop-in and Town Hall

The City is hosting a Community Drop-in and Town Hall to share more details about the shelter and for residents to ask questions.

  • Date: Monday, November 10
  • Time:
    • 5:30-6:30 p.m. Drop-in anytime to speak to staff
    • 6:30-8 p.m. Presentation and question and answer
  • Location: The Learning Enrichment Foundation, 116 Industry St.

Residents are encouraged to send in questions in advance of the event to the Community Engagement Facilitator at 2buttonwood@toronto.ca.

Homelessness is experienced in all corners of Toronto and shelters are needed across the city to support people who are facing an immediate housing crisis.

Demand for family shelters continues to rise, with many families awaiting space in a family shelter program. According to the 2024 Street Needs Assessment, a point-in-time count and survey of people experiencing homelessness, 10% of people experiencing homelessness reported having children and/or other dependents.

Although the City funds a number of family shelter programs, there are currently no family shelters in the city’s west end.

The neighbourhood surrounding 2 Buttonwood Ave. includes a number of community resources – it is close to schools, a strong network of social service agencies, faith communities and culturally appropriate grocery stores.  The program will also offer a number of onsite wrap-around support 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.

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 typically located in residential areas, often close to libraries, schools, community centres and health care services.

The shelter at 2 Buttonwood Ave. will be City-operated, supporting women experiencing homeless and their children to stabilize their lives.

The site will feature:

  • up to 96 family suites, designed to be flexible to accommodate different family structures and sizes
  • kitchenettes on each floor for family use
  • a commercial kitchen and dining area
  • a family resource centre/playroom so that families and the children can connect, helping to reduce social isolation

Renovations will be undertaken to ensure the building follows best practice in shelter design, helping to serve the diverse needs of families and integrate into the surrounding community. Learn more about new shelter design.

Once operational, the shelter program will be staffed 24 hours a day and provide wrap-around supports, including:

  • Meals and laundry
  • Case managers who work with clients to develop housing plans, access income supports and provide referrals to other community services
  • Medical care
  • Specialized programming and recreational activities for women, children and youth

Once the site opens, additional resources may be added to enhance inclusiveness and address the unique needs of families on-site. This includes building partnerships with community agencies that provide services to support women, children and youth.

Referrals to the program will be made through the City’s telephone-based Central Intake service.

The City is committed to working with the community to support the success of the site.

The City has hired Community Engagement Facilitator Joe Mihevc 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 problem-solve concerns that may arise.

Should you wish to receive e-updates as the project progresses, or have site specific questions, please email 2buttonwood@toronto.ca.