Vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness, have been hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Toronto, a rapid emergency response to protect homeless populations was undertaken, resulting in a significant restructuring of the 24-hour emergency homelessness system (shelter system). In order to document the impact of this transformation, the Toronto Shelter Network (TSN), in partnership with Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services (Dixon Hall) embarked on a six-month exploratory study called “Meeting Crisis with Opportunity: Reimagining Toronto’s Shelter System”.
The study aimed to achieve the following objectives:
To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the shelter system.
To describe the experiences of shelter users (clients) since the onset of COVID-19, and to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on diverse populations using Toronto’s shelter system, including those who moved into hotels and those who remained in legacy shelters and respites.
To develop recommendations that will help guide homelessness service providers and decision makers to develop sound and actionable short- and long-term strategies for improving emergency homelessness services.
This project report identifies findings and highlights considerations that can improve the delivery of housing and homelessness services and supports for people in Toronto, build capacity and infrastructure for future waves of COVID-19 and other emergencies and inform the permanent transition of the shelter system into one that is people-centered and housing-focused.
To view the full reports please click the red buttons below:
The Toronto Shelter Network has received funding from the Catherine Donnelly Foundation to continue working on Phase 2 of this project. Phase 2 will consist of:
Building on Phase 1 of the Re-Imagining Model, placing it within larger systemic hurdles, challenges and contexts.
Developing a collaborator resource booklet to guide access to research, financing, design and advocacy partners, locally and internationally.
Delivering a knowledge exchange event to advance distribution of the model, strengthen networking and establish greater international engagement. The event will be virtual to welcome national and international presenters and attendees.
Toronto Shelter Network and Dixon Hall, with pro-bono support from KPMG facilitated a planning exercise with shelter service providers. The objective was to discuss and determine best practices and approaches for decommissioning temporary COVID-19 hotel program sites.
To view the summary of the COVID Hotel Transitioning Planning Sessions of 2021/2022, Please click the red button below: