Today, the City of Toronto opened a new shelter at 4117 Lawrence Ave. E. as part of its ongoing strategy to create new permanent shelter beds. This new facility will provide critical emergency shelter and support services to people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
The City is committed to supporting residents experiencing homelessness and ensuring they have access to safe, indoor emergency shelter and help to find permanent housing quickly. From April 2020 to April 2021, 5,518 people experiencing homelessness moved from the shelter system into permanent housing.
Following a Toronto City Council directive in February 2018 to provide 1,000 new permanent shelter beds in Toronto, the City began identifying possible locations. The site at 4117 Lawrence Ave. E. was selected for its proximity to public transit, parks, amenities and community services. Situated in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood in the Scarborough-Guildwood ward, the shelter represents the arrival of needed services in Scarborough.
The City’s newest shelter will be operated in partnership with Homes First Society, an established service provider with more than 35 years of experience. Both the City and Homes First Society are committed to the safety and security of shelter residents, staff and the broader community. The shelter will have highly trained staff who are fully equipped to respond to the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness, including crisis management, trauma assistance, informed care, harm reduction and day-to-day support.
While this fully accessible, co-ed shelter has a capacity for up to 89 beds, this number has been reduced to 55 beds to operate in accordance with COVID-19 infection, prevention and control measures (IPAC), including physical distancing requirements. In addition to beds, there is dedicated space for primary care and health care and community space for programming, events, community partnerships, workshops and volunteer engagement. In alignment with the City’s Shelter Design and Technical Guidelines launched in January 2021, https://www.toronto.ca/communi
The City works with dedicated community partners like Homes First Society to provide client-centered, outcome-focused services that help people find and keep stable housing and improve their overall well-being. This site is part of the more than 6,000 spaces in Toronto’s emergency shelter system, the largest in Canada. The City ensures that vulnerable people can access emergency shelter when they need it and are assisted in finding permanent housing as quickly as possible.
More information about 4117 Lawrence Ave E. can be found here: https://www.toronto.ca/communi
A video tour of this shelter is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Quotes:
“As a city, we are committed to investing in help for our most vulnerable residents. This new site provides the safe, secure shelter and care that people need. I want to thank our City staff and partners at Homes First who have made this shelter a reality. I’m thankful for your dedication to seeing this through as part of Council’s commitment to create 1,000 new shelter beds in Toronto, and for continuing to provide care to residents here in Scarborough.”
-Mayor John Tory
“Lasting economic and community development is only possible when every resident is able to access the services and support they need. This shelter represents an important resource and a first step for many toward finding long-term housing. As someone who is deeply invested in Scarborough, I am grateful for the partnership and opportunity this shelter represents.”
-Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson
“Scarborough is an important and diverse community in every way – culturally, socially and economically. I am pleased this vital community resource will provide important services to Scarborough residents in need of safe emergency shelter, and the support they need to access long-term housing.”
-Councillor Paul Ainslie, Scarborough-Guildwood
“Providing safe, accessible emergency shelter is a key part of our mandate at Shelter, Support and Housing Administration. When a new shelter comes to a neighbourhood, it provides so much more than just a bed. Shelters have staff and programs that are dedicated to helping people move back towards securing housing stability once again. We are grateful to the many people whose hard work has made 4117 Lawrence Ave. E. a possibility, and to Homes First Society for the support they provide to some of our City’s most vulnerable residents.”
-Mary-Anne Bedard, General Manager, Shelter Support and Housing Administration
“Homes First is delighted to work with the City of Toronto in the operation of this new shelter in the eastern portion of Scarborough. Our staff are excited to work with our community partners to end homelessness. We pledge to make a difference and to help people who have experienced homelessness integrate back into the housed community.”
-Patricia Mueller, Chief Executive Officer, Homes First
SOURCE City of Toronto
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