Homelessness Prevention

Homelessness Prevention is one of several grant programs the City of Toronto provides for non-profit, community-based organizations to provide a variety of housing supports and homelessness services to residents. Projects are selected to receive grant funding from the City’s Housing Secretariat after a comprehensive review process using a standardized methodology to ensure all projects meet the defined service criteria for the funding program, known as the Service Delivery Requirements.

Homelessness Prevention projects provide case management services to individuals and families whose current housing situation is temporary or precarious and require rehousing or stabilization supports.

Eviction Prevention projects are designed to support tenants at risk of homelessness by providing immediate, short-term supports to sustain tenancies. These projects work directly with housing providers and any other service providers that may be engaged with the tenant, such as the Landlord and Tenant Board and income maintenance programs. Services are provided with a Housing First approach.

The following projects have been selected to deliver Homelessness Prevention services for the funding term of April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028.

Organization Project Name
Agincourt Community Services Association ACSA EPIC Program
Albion Neighbourhood Services ANS EPIC Program
Good Shepherd Ministries Good Shepherd Ministries Eviction Prevention
Midaynta Community Services Midaynta EPIC Project
The Neighbourhood Group Community Services TNG EPIC Project
The Housing Help Centre Eviction Prevention in the Community

If you are interested in learning more about the services offered, please contact the organizations above directly.

Eviction Prevention Outcome Definition: A client/household whose eviction was successfully prevented.

Eviction Prevention Staffing Model: Eviction Prevention projects must have one dedicated Management Supervisor (1 FTE) and a minimum of three Eviction Prevention Workers (minimum 3 FTEs).

Key Performance Indicators: Eviction Prevention projects are expected to meet the following performance metrics:

  • Number of Referrals Received:
    • Average 15 Households per Agency EPIC Team per Month (equivalent to 5 per worker)
  • Percentage of Referrals Received Accepted Case Management Services:
    • Minimum 95% (aim for 100%)
  • Active Caseload:
    • 10 to 15 households per worker (on-going)
  • Case Management Services Response Times:
    • Within two business days maximum
  • Case Management Service Time:
    • Average 60 days
  • Number of Eviction Prevention Successful Outcomes:
    • Minimum average three households per month per worker
  • Recidivism Rate:
    • Less than 3%
  • Six-Month Follow-Up:
    • Minimum 90% remain stably housed (aim for 100%)

The following Service Delivery Requirements are essential for Eviction Prevention programs to provide responsive and timely interventions to tenants at imminent risk of eviction to help them to sustain their tenancies.

  1. Implement rapid, wrap-around, short-term case management services, tools and practices to ensure individualized case plans are in place to prevent evictions and sustain tenancies.
  2. Deliver services in person, including travelling to meet with people in their housing units, accompanying people to other service providers in the community and providing support after hours and on weekends as and when necessary.
  3. Serve all populations across the City of Toronto. Projects designed to serve specific target population groups will need to accept referrals of all client populations to meet key performance metrics.
  4. Have responsive service delivery staff with valid driver’s licenses and access to a vehicle for travel to conduct work in communities across Toronto.
  5. Provide non-judgmental, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and person-centered services rooted in harm reduction and Housing First approaches.
  6. Conduct regular and documented weekly engagements with all clients/households.
  7. Have a dedicated, knowledgeable, skilled and responsive eviction prevention team and ensure appropriate coverage for extended Eviction Prevention staff leave periods.
  8. Ensure accuracy, quality and timeliness of documenting, compiling, maintaining and recording client-level information – including activity and data on shared databases per Program developed policies, standards, and guidelines.
  9. Provide, consultation, debriefing and overall case management support.
  10. Have, build and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies specific to eviction prevention and housing stability within staff team (including but not limited to tenants’ rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and other relevant legislation and resources related to housing).
  11. Build and maintain relationships with allied partners in communities across Toronto, including housing providers and service providers who support housing stability and eviction prevention work.
  12. Support clients in engaging with community resources and system navigation within community and government agencies to build client capacity for ongoing housing stability.
  13. Facilitate, plan and participate in community of practices, committees and working groups as and when required.