Background

2017 - Refugee Housing

For five months in 2016, the Toronto Plaza Hotel housed at least 1,200 Syrian newcomers who arrived here as part of Canada’s resettlement plan that would eventually see the country welcome 60,000 Syrians who fled civil war in their homeland. This was done with the assumption that the arrangement was temporary.

2019-2022 - COVID-19 Impacts

The City’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) Division has traditionally contracted with various hotels across the city to supplement its shelter capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a need for increased physical distancing, which reduced bed capacity at existing shelter and respite sites. In response, SSHA needed to significantly expand the number of beds to provide a safe place for people experiencing homelessness to sleep indoors. As of March 9, 2022, the shelter system included over 3,900 people staying in 2,900 rooms across 29 hotel locations.

2022 & Beyond, post-COVID era and next steps

In June 2022, after the Plaza Hotel had continued operating as a shelter through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, after repeated outcry from the community, when an audit of the emergency shelter system went before Council, I moved an amendment to develop an immediate strategy to end the hotel shelter system, with provisions for creating a strategy to develop alternate housing. My motion was ruled out of order and struck down.

Once again, in July 2022, I brought a Members Motion MM47.55 - Lessons Learned from Shelter Hotel Operations, forward at Council which would have sanctioned an immediate transition strategy from hotel shelters and revoked city staff’s authority over the shelter system, restituting it to City Council. This motion was referred to the Economic and Community Development Committee, where it was then referred to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration–city staff–for consideration, Effectively quashing it.

2024 and beyond - Next Steps

I understand that the activities surrounding the shelter have made life difficult for folks in the area. In July, I authored a letter in favour of Paid Duty police officer presence for the area. Please see below.

 

After a tour of the area with Police, City staff and affected locals that was followed up by a productive meeting with Shelter Staff, they are now fast-tracking the implementation of Paid Duty Police Officers to deal with Shelter issues. I will continue to advocate for a long-term strategy for remedying this problem and improving the area. 

What needs to be done?

 

Many of the root causes which have led to this difficult situation stem from choices made by higher levels of government. The Federal government allowed a surge of refugees to enter Canada, without adequate consideration for their accommodation. This oversight has led to instances of migrants being left to sleep on the streets, and in some tragic cases, to their deaths. 

Over the past 4 years, the city’s shelter system has been struggling to keep up with the escalating problem of homelessness, receiving little support from the levels of government responsible for decisions which have led to it, with broader revenue sources and policy options available. 

As it stands, the shelter is tasked with housing up to 200 clients, a large percentage of them with high needs, at an exorbitant cost per resident, per year, with not enough offered in the way of meaningful rehabilitation or support from the Provincial or Federal Governments whom have the financial capacity to fix the problem. I have long, and very vocally, opposed this inefficient band-aid solution for its incredible cost to property taxpayers as well as low efficacy in providing meaningful housing alternatives.

Additionally, community safety issues in the vicinity continue to escalate. An increase in breaking and entering, fraud, theft and more have been met with little support from the Federal government.

Before we can truly solve the situation at 1677 Wilson Avenue, the Federal and Provincial government must do their part to curb the systemic issues which jeopardize the longevity of any solution by creating a revolving door of high needs clients.

UPDATE: Extension of Paid Duty Officers

My office has advocated for an extension of the Paid Duty Officer program. We have received word from Gord Tanner, General Manager for Toronto Shelter and Support Services
until October 4. We will continue to advocate for the area to be better supervised. 

My office also assisted with a major cleanup of the surrounding area during the summer. Please see the photos below. 

I'd like to hear from you

If you have any feedback or suggestions you'd like to share with my office, please click here.

For immediate assistance, please see the following resources: 

• For situations where the safety of people or property are at risk, please contact emergency services by dialing 911.
• For complaints, by-law inquiries, non-emergencies and ongoing issues, please call the 31 Division Non-Emergency Line at 416-808-2222. Additionally, you can reach Neighbourhood Community Officers at 416-808-3119.
• To request Community Safety Teams to patrol a certain area and/or collect drug paraphernalia on the ground, contact City Staff at 416-392-4616 or 416-395-7606.
• To connect with City outreach workers regarding local encampments and referrals to a shelter, please call 311.
• For questions or concerns about the shelter at 1677 Wilson Ave, please reach out to Community Engagement at [email protected]