Toronto's Multi-Divisional Response to the Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness

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The decision

2025-09-16 · Economic and Community Development Committee · amended

As filed

The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. As part of the inventory of initiatives, programs, and services referenced in Toronto's Multi-Divisional Response to the Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness, requested the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to: a. map the various pathways from homelessness into housing, both for unsheltered and sheltered clients, through the programs and services offered by the City and community partners in order to support and improve system navigation and identify human rights-based outcomes for people experiencing homelessness; and b.

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consult with the Housing Rights Advisory Committee on clarifying service pathways into housing, identifying human rights-based outcomes, and clarifying system navigation for people experiencing homelessness by the second quarter of 2026, as part of Phase Two of this work and prior to the finalization of the inventory.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Toronto continues to experience a housing and homelessness crisis driven by several complex and intersecting factors, including insufficient affordable and supportive housing supply, unmet health care needs, increased costs of living, and inadequate wage and income supports. Key indicators such as the rise in the number of people sleeping outdoors and in public spaces, longer shelter stays, and challenges with mental health and substance use, underscore the urgent need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral, and intergovernmental approach across systems.

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At the municipal level, City divisions supporting people experiencing homelessness have established coordinating tables to enhance service integration and program delivery. It is critical that the City continues to deepen these efforts through an All-of-City response that ensures homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. This report provides an update on efforts towards this goal, including: - A resource inventory of City-funded homelessness services which provides a foundational understanding of the local service delivery system (Attachment 1); - An overview of current interdivisional initiatives that provide coordinated responses to homelessness; and - An overview of next steps towards continuing an All-of City response to homelessness. This report reflects an important first step in a broader, multi-phased effort to advance an All-of-City response to homelessness. Building on this foundation, further updates on this response will be provided as the City of Toronto continues to advance its work on a Five-Year Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness.

Staff recommended

The General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services recommends that: 1. Economic and Community Development Committee receive this report for information.

On the record

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