Today, Toronto City Council voted to support the City Manager’s staff report entitled, “COVID-19 Response Update: Protecting People Experiencing Homelessness and Ensuring the Safety of the Shelter System.” The report outlines the unprecedented action the City of Toronto has taken and proposes six recommendations to help the City, with its community partners, continue its dedication to reducing the risks of COVID-19 in the shelter system, direct staff to continue working with those living in encampments to offer safe indoor space, and work with the federal and provincial governments to secure investments in a range of affordable and supportive housing solutions.
Council approved the following recommendations from the City Manager:
The full report is available online.
Council also approved several amendments including:
Read all amendments in Council item COVID-19 Response Update: Protecting People Experiencing Homelessness and Ensuring the Safety of the Shelter System.
The City continues to assist and protect people experiencing homelessness through COVID-19 vaccination, an increased focus on infection and prevention control (IPAC) measures in the shelter system, a pilot COVID-19 rapid testing program for new admissions and referring people to safer inside space with supports including meals, laundry, harm reduction and access to a housing worker.
This year the City is spending $663.2 million on Homelessness and Housing First Solutions – like supportive housing. This is almost double what the City spent before the pandemic, in 2019 ($365.8 million).
To date, more than 7,500 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people experiencing homelessness and who are precariously housed, as well as staff working in the homelessness and housing sector through on-site clinics in the shelter system, or through a mobile clinic. As of June 4, 53 per cent of people staying in the City’s shelter system that week have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
A robust effort is underway to make sure infection prevention and control measures in the shelter are strengthened and improved where needed. This has led to a reduction in outbreaks – there is one outbreak in one shelter as of this past Sunday.
From April 2020 to April 2021, the City has helped 5,518 people experiencing homelessness move from the shelter system into permanent housing.
The report notes that the City has referred almost 1,600 people staying in encampments to safe inside space since April 2020. Since July 2020, City and partner agency staff have engaged more than 19,000 times with people living outside, including those staying in encampments – listening to and understanding their needs on a daily basis with care and compassion, and offering them safe inside space with supports including meals, laundry, showers, mental health and addiction supports, interim housing, and referrals to permanent housing.
There have been 100 fires in encampments so far this year. Recently, Toronto Fire Services cleared 24 propane cylinders and other flammable and combustible materials, including gas cans, at a makeshift encampment near the Don Valley Parkway. In 2020, Toronto Fire Services responded to 253 fires in encampments – a 250 per cent increase over the same period in 2019.
The City will enforce bylaws at encampments after exhausting all options to help people move from encampments to safer, indoor spaces. Space remains available in the City’s shelters and its hotel program for all those living in encampments.
Quotes:
“I want to thank our City staff for the ongoing work they are doing to get people vaccinated and to help people find safe housing options. More than 1,600 people from encampments – including more than 200 people in the last month – have moved to safe, inside space and more than 5,500 people who were staying in our shelter system have moved into permanent housing during the pandemic. We must continue with all of those efforts but at the same time acknowledge that encampments are not safe, they are not healthy and they are not legal. We will never stop working to help our homeless residents have safe housing options – in the last week we opened a new shelter in Scarborough and we are continuing to work with local communities to open new modular housing sites to provide more supportive housing units.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The City has taken significant action to ensure the safety of our shelter system and the people it serves during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s City Manager’s staff report highlights the importance of continuing to focus on, and support, people experiencing homelessness, and to accelerate the creation of housing alternatives for these vulnerable residents.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“This past year has presented unprecedented challenges for all residents but particularly those who are most vulnerable in our City. The City has undertaken significant actions to support those who need our help the most including through the shelter system and in the provision of safe and stable housing. This report shows the City’s considerable work to date and proposes even more important and impactful actions ahead to support those most in need in our City.”
– Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão (Davenport), Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.