The Toronto Shelter Network conference provides a unique opportunity for 24-hour emergency homelessness providers (shelter, respite and 24-hour drop-in providers) to share and learn from their peers. It is also a chance for community partners, policy makers, researchers, those with lived experience, and others to engage with the shelter sector.

The conference offers practical opportunities for learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration through workshops, panel presentations, and forum discussions.

2024 conference re-cap

The 2024 TSN Conference, centered around the theme "Innovative Partnerships and Projects: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Homelessness," brought together a diverse group of professionals dedicated to tackling one of Toronto’s most pressing issues. 

This year’s conference underscored the importance of moving beyond conventional methods, emphasizing that homelessness cannot be solved in isolation. It requires an integrated approach that considers healthcare, resource allocation, as well as the power of cross-sector collaboration. The day featured powerful keynote addresses from Dr. Naheed Dosani in the morning, and Robin Mazumder in the afternoon. We were also honoured to hear powerful remarks from Mayor Olivia Chow, who joined us via Zoom, and a video message from Gord Tanner, both emphasizing the critical importance of the work of shelter workers in the homelessness sector. We were honored to have Traditional Knowledge Carrier Alita Suave join us, helping us start and end the day in such a meaningful way. The conference also featured a wide range of workshops that offered practical strategies and facilitated discussions on how to create sustainable change in homelessness services. 

Through these collaborations, the conference highlighted the critical role of innovation, partnership, and collective action in making a meaningful impact on homelessness.