Ensuring a Positive Outcome for Our Community and the New Shelter at 68 Sheppard Avenue West

The Need for Shelters

Like many of you, I felt a sense of concern when I was first notified about the new shelter proposal. Currently, the city operates approximately 12,000 shelter beds, the majority of which are located downtown. Click Here to see a map of all shelter locations. In fact, thousands of shelter beds were temporarily created in hotels as part of the emergency response during the pandemic, but those are not sustainable long-term. The city's plan to build 20 new shelters over the next decade aims to address this shortage, but these efforts must be spread across different neighbourhoods, including ours. Click Here for more information on this shelter building capital plan.

Building more shelters is not a choice for our city but a necessity. Toronto’s homelessness crisis has grown more visible in recent years, with many people living in encampments on streets and in parks. We can’t afford to ignore the reality that people need safe, stable shelter—especially as winter approaches. Purpose-built shelters, like the one proposed at 68 Sheppard Avenue West, are designed to provide better care and support than temporary emergency shelters, which often lack the resources and stability to ensure success.

Addressing Concerns About the Shelter's Impact

I share many of your concerns about the shelter’s location and its potential impact on our neighbourhood. However, I want to emphasize that purpose-built shelters are vastly different from the emergency hotel-based shelters we’ve seen before. They are designed with smaller populations and increased staffing, ensuring better resources for residents and fewer disruptions to the surrounding community. This model has been proven to have a more sustainable and supportive outcome for those seeking shelter.

I understand that many people are uneasy about the shelter being located in our area, but it’s important to note that shelter locations must be chosen through a process of delegated authority. This means the decision about where to place shelters is made outside of political influence to ensure that political pressure does not prevent the development of crucial services. This process, while not perfect, is essential to addressing the housing crisis in Toronto.

In Toronto, democracy is about 26 votes (25 City Councillors + the Mayor). I previously tried to relocate the supportive housing project at 175 Cummer and was not successful due to strong advocacy against my motions. The same could happen if we were to try to move a motion to relocate this newly proposed shelter. I have worked hard to foster positive relationships with my fellow councillors and trying to shift this shelter outside of my neighbourhood would likely alienate my peers while also likely failing. I will continue to have community dialogue to determine what our best next steps will be.

I believe that most people in Willowdale do not want the unhoused to freeze to death. Unfortunately, someone in Toronto died outside only a few days ago. Many people complain about the growing number of encampments across our city, including in Willowdale. The critical factor here is a lack of trust in the city’s ability to mitigate the impact of building a new shelter. I was dissatisfied with how our initial meeting was hosted and will work hard to ensure community concerns are heard and addressed by City Staff.

To be clear, I stand on behalf of the community whenever I meet with City Staff. I have sent all the concerns I have heard about, including the desire to relocate. I am not defending the City’s decision nor do I fully agree with what has been decided. But, my job is to try to get the best outcome and I have to make hard choices to get us there. I can spend time and energy trying to fight something which I do not believe will be successful, OR I can spend time and energy fighting for the best implementation for our neighbourhood. 

I am committed to working with city staff to ensure the best possible outcome for our community. I am actively advocating for clear communication with residents and a comprehensive plan to address safety and integration. This includes discussions around shelter operations, security measures, and partnerships with local police to ensure a safe environment for both shelter residents and the broader community.

A Broader Perspective on Homelessness, Mental Health and Addiction

The issue of homelessness, combined with mental health and addiction challenges, requires a comprehensive approach. Our city is not alone in facing these challenges. Across Canada and around the world, communities are grappling with the need for more affordable housing and better support services. Similar to my explanations about the city’s fiscal framework, the problem of homelessness along with mental health and addiction challenges that have grown visibly across our country is one that requires stronger investment and collaboration across all 3 levels of government. Here are some important pieces to the puzzle:

1. The City and country needs more affordable housing. For example, cities like Vienna, Singapore, and Japan have demonstrated the effectiveness of government-driven, large-scale housing projects in addressing housing insecurity.

   1. Vienna, Austria: The city’s success in providing affordable housing is well-documented. About 60% of Vienna’s population lives in social housing, a system of government-subsidized apartments. This model has helped to eliminate homelessness and ensure that even the lowest-income residents have access to safe, affordable homes. Over the past few decades, the city has built and maintained tens of thousands of new affordable housing units every year, keeping rents affordable while maintaining high-quality living conditions.

   2. Singapore: The Singaporean government has built over 1.1 million public housing units, making it one of the most successful examples of state-led housing in the world. Nearly 80% of Singapore’s population lives in government-built flats. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) ensures that the vast majority of housing is affordable to middle- and low-income families, significantly reducing the risk of homelessness and housing instability.

   3. Tokyo, Japan: Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, has also implemented successful government-led housing initiatives to address homelessness. The Japanese government has consistently built large-scale, affordable public housing projects through the Public Housing Program (Kōzō Jūtaku). Tokyo's approach focuses on providing affordable homes with long-term tenancy rights, not only to low-income households but also to people at risk of homelessness. With a focus on mixed-income developments, Tokyo has managed to provide affordable housing without creating social isolation or ghettos, which has been a challenge for many other large cities. The Japanese model also emphasizes high standards of quality and design, ensuring residents enjoy a decent quality of life in government-provided housing.

      
      

Here in Toronto, our current housing crisis is exacerbated by the lack of affordable options. Luxury condos and market-priced housing cannot solve this problem. We need a more proactive, large-scale approach that prioritizes affordable housing for all residents. While building affordable housing takes time, our investments today will yield tangible results in the coming years.

2. The Critical Gap in Mental Health and Addiction Services in Ontario. As we work toward better housing solutions, we must also address the intertwined issues of mental health and addiction that contribute to homelessness. Unfortunately, Ontario’s investments in mental health and addiction services have not kept pace with the growing demand for care, resulting in a system that is difficult to access, underfunded, and stretched thin.

According to the Ontario Mental Health and Addiction Agency, 1 in 5 Ontarians will experience mental health or addiction issues each year, yet Ontario’s public health system is ill-equipped to support these individuals adequately. In fact, Ontario has some of the longest wait times for mental health services in Canada. The Canadian Mental Health Association has highlighted that mental health and addiction services in Ontario remain chronically underfunded, with the province allocating only about 7% of its health care budget to mental health and addiction services—far below the 12% recommended by experts.

This lack of investment in mental health and addiction services is having a direct impact on homelessness. Many people experiencing homelessness also struggle with mental health challenges or addiction issues, but they often cannot access the support they need. In fact, more than 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto report that mental health or substance use issues are contributing factors to their situation. Without proper mental health care and addiction treatment, it is extremely difficult for individuals to break the cycle of homelessness.

This lack of funding is not just a gap—it’s a crisis. We need to invest more in accessible mental health and addiction services to help prevent homelessness and to support those currently without stable housing. A more robust, comprehensive mental health system is not just beneficial, it’s necessary for the well-being of all Ontarians, and for the success of our shelter and housing efforts.

Folks living with lower incomes have a hard time accessing mental health and addiction rehabilitation. The government of Alberta formed a special cabinet to reduce all barriers to accessing addiction support. While many push for the removal of safe injection sites, we must do so in the context of fully funded and operational alternatives. Currently, there are waitlists and a difficult system to navigate for those who are poor and want help. While some may disagree, I believe our country should also consider compassionate forced treatment. In fact, Big City Mayors across Ontario have been asking for this through their Solve the Crisis advocacy.

3. The Need for Coordinated Services for Asylum Seekers Across Canada. Another significant challenge that exacerbates our local housing and homelessness crisis is the ongoing lack of coordinated services for asylum seekers across Canada. The federal government has largely left the responsibility of managing asylum seekers to municipalities without providing adequate funding or infrastructure for local governments to manage these populations effectively.

Canada has long been a destination for people fleeing persecution, but the lack of coordinated settlement services across provinces and cities is leaving many asylum seekers in limbo. In Toronto, for example, 6,500 of the 12,000+ shelter beds are occupied by asylum seekers, placing further strain on an already overwhelmed system. Many of these individuals live in shelters without a clear pathway to permanent housing. Furthermore, the lack of federally supported housing initiatives for refugees and asylum seekers means that municipalities are left scrambling to accommodate growing numbers of people, creating additional pressures on shelter systems, community resources, and public health.

In provinces like Quebec and Ontario, the influx of asylum seekers has placed a considerable burden on cities, especially when services are poorly coordinated between federal and provincial governments. Despite repeated calls from municipalities and advocacy groups, there has been insufficient action to open a dedicated Refugee Claimant Welcome Centre, which would distribute responsibility more equitably across the country. This lack of investment and coordination not only harms asylum seekers but also adds additional strain on local systems already under pressure from growing populations and limited resources.

Until the federal government takes more direct responsibility for the settlement and integration of asylum seekers, the strain on Toronto’s shelter system will only continue to grow.

I met a refugee claimant at 5800 Yonge Street who travelled all the way to New Brunswick for more affordable housing. However, they returned to Toronto due to lack of supports in New Brunswick.

A Path Forward

While I have reservations about the location of the shelter, I want to reassure you that I am listening to all your concerns. I have raised these issues with city staff and will continue to push for a transparent process that ensures the shelter operates in a way that minimizes impact on our community.

In the coming weeks, I will be arranging a tour of a few purpose-built shelters, and I would welcome community leaders to join me. This will give us a better understanding of how these shelters operate and what we can advocate for to ensure a positive outcome for our neighbourhood.

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns and for your ongoing commitment to improving our community. I am always available to meet with you and continue the conversation. Together, we can ensure that we create a solution that works for everyone.