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City of Toronto's 2018-19 winter plan for homeless people includes more spaces, better service, faster access
Today, the City of Toronto announced details about the 2018-19 winter service plan to ensure safe and welcoming places for all who need them during the coming winter weather. The plan is informed by last winter’s experience and supported by recommendations from the City’s Ombudsman.
In addition to the existing 24-hour respite site locations, the City is opening three new services that will use recently purchased prefabricated structures to be located in the east, central and west parts of the city. Like the existing sites, the new sites will offer single adults and couples, along with their pets, easy access to warm places to rest and to obtain meals and service referrals.
The new sites are under development and will be available starting December 15. In the meantime, the City is opening a temporary 24-hour respite site with up to 200 spaces starting November 15 in the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place.
“City staff are working to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing, but it is critical for anyone who is homeless to have sufficient services and places to go during the coldest weather of the year,” said General Manager Paul Raftis of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration. “We must prioritize the safety and comfort of our most vulnerable residents.”
This is the fifth straight year the City has increased the number of spaces available at 24-hour respite sites. By mid-November there will be at least 600 spaces, with more available as contingency space.
“Although the shelter system is operating at high occupancy, we are confident that with the 24-hour respite sites and new beds coming soon, we will have sufficient spaces for all who need them this winter,” said Raftis.
The locations for the new 24-hour respite sites are:
• 1155 King St. W.: expected to be open December 15, 2018
• 701 Fleet St.: expected to be open January 31, 2019
• 351 Lake Shore Blvd. E: expected to be open January 31, 2019
Capacity in the permanent shelter system will be enhanced by year end with the expected opening of 102 net new beds as part of the City’s shelter expansion plans. These expansions will provide additional beds for women and seniors.
City staff have made improvements over the past nine months that will result in better service for respite site and shelter clients, quicker access to services, and tighter management of the routine and unexpected events that have an impact on the shelter and respite system. The improvements include:
• 24-hour respite site interim standards, implemented in April 2018, are being replaced with updated standards that contain input from the community and the public.
• An expanded Central Intake staff complement equipped with appropriate technology will be able to answer calls more efficiently, resulting in shorter wait times and more streamlined access to services.
• A 24/7 Duty Manager’s Office will provide real time oversight and operational assistance to community and staff providers of service.
Access to 24-hour respite sites and shelter is through 311, in-person at the Assessment and Referral Centre at 129 Peter St., and by direct contact with the service provider. Information about City-funded homelessness services is available at http://www.toronto.ca/homelesshelp.
Detailed information about the prefabricated structures is available at http://ow.ly/Xwhj30mydTd.
24-hour respite sites for winter 2018-19
Below is a list of 11 respite sites in Toronto, with addresses and their capacities:
• 323 Dundas St. E., operated by Margaret's, capacity of 50
• 25 Augusta Ave., operated by St. Felix Centre, capacity of 50
• 354 George St., operated by Homes First, capacity of 105
• 705 Progress Ave., Unit 29, operated by Warden Woods, capacity of 49
• 21 Park Rd., operated by Margaret’s, capacity of 30
• 201 Cowan Ave., operated by Dixon Hall, capacity of 21
• 545 Lake Shore Blvd. E., operated by Fred Victor, capacity of 200 as of November 15 (this location will become a shelter in January, retaining 100 contingency respite spaces)
• Queen Elizabeth Building, Exhibition Place, operated by Homes First, capacity of 200 (Service commences November 15, 2018 until January 31, 2019, as other services are opened. Closure will be dependent on occupancy pressures.)
• 1155 King St. W. (part of the parking lot behind Lamport Stadium), operated by St. Felix Centre with expected opening December 15), capacity of 100
• 351 Lake Shore Blvd. E., operated by Dixon Hall (expected opening January 31), capacity of 100
• 701 Fleet St., operated by Fred Victor (expected opening January 31), capacity of 80
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