Update on Encampments in Etobicoke-Lakeshore

With summer upon us, there has been a resurgence of encampments across Toronto. Encampments are a symptom of the housing affordability crisis, exacerbated by a lack of supportive housing and a co-current mental health and addictions crisis that is facing cities across North America. As Toronto continues to grow, Etobicoke-Lakeshore is no exception to this, as our city’s most vulnerable seek shelter and social supports.

While historically we have seen most encampments in the downtown core where there is a density of social supports and services, we are increasingly seeing our neighbours here in Etobicoke facing similar challenges accessing adequate, permanent housing across the housing spectrum. Recently, residents have reached out with questions about the City’s policies after seeing encampments in their neighbourhoods – specifically at Coronation Park and in the parking lot at LAMP CHC.

I remain committed to a people-first, human rights-based approach to help connect those living outside and in encampments with shelter support and housing services.

Outreach efforts at these locations focus on engaging with individuals to build trusting relationships, help address immediate health and safety needs and find supportive and permanent housing.

The City uses a multi-divisional approach to respond to the complex needs of those living outdoors. Outreach staff work to facilitate access to indoor spaces, housing and wrap-around supports while clean-up crews remove waste and debris and ensure parks and other shared-use spaces are accessible to all.

It's important to note that the City’s approach to managing encampments involves prioritizing outreach to support individuals and assisting them in securing more permanent housing solutions. This process may be lengthy due to the high demand and current strains on our shelter system, reflecting the broader challenges of our ongoing housing affordability crisis.

I am committed to continue working closely with City Staff to ensure that:

• City Staff from Streets to Homes continue to engage meaningfully and consistently with encampment residents in Etobicoke-Lakeshore to secure permanent housing solutions,

• City Staff from appropriate divisions are engaged to address health, safety, and well-being concerns for the individuals staying in encampments and local communities as they arise,

• Neighbours living near the encampments are engaged and updated when appropriate.

Updates on local encampments:

Coronation Park

Update  – July 19, 2024

• July 8, 2024 – In partnership with Toronto Seniors Housing, we hosted a Community Safety Meeting for residents of Griggs and Edwards Manor to discuss safety concerns shared by residents, including some related to the proximity to the encampment in Coronation Park

• July 9, 2024 – We hosted a Community Meeting for neighbours of the park with representatives from the Encampment Office to answer questions about the City's approach to outreach to residents in encampments and updates specific to Coronation Park

• A clean up of the south side of Judson is currently scheduled for next Tuesday (July 23, 2024)

Update – June 24, 2024

• Parks Staff and the Pest Management Contractor met and investigated for rat droppings and rat holes

• No rat droppings or rat holes were found in the park, inside the train station, or under the train station decking

• Parks Staff have placed traps in the park, and they will continue to monitor them

• The Encampment Office coordinated a cleanup of the accumulation of debris on the south side of the road on Friday, June 21 at 10am, and they will continue to monitor the area

Update – June 7, 2024

Last week, my team and I met with a small group, including:

• A small group of local residents,

• A representative from the Mimico Village BIA,

• Members of the Toronto Police Service, and

• City Staff from:

  • Toronto Shelter & Support Services - Street Outreach

  • Parks, Forestry, + Recreation

  • Transportation Services

  • Solid Waste Management Services

  • Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation

Following this meeting, my staff are coordinating with City Staff to:

• Identify dates for a monthly check-in with neighbours of Coronation Park,

• Clear the underbrush from the path south of the park to improve sightlines,

• Perform an assessment of Coronation Park to determine source of rodent activity and recommend a plan for control and monitoring, as required.

• Renovate and reanimate the historic train station, with input from the Mimico Village BIA, and

• Host a Community Safety Town Hall for the neighbouring TSHC buildings.

Parking Lot at LAMP CHC

Update – July 19, 2024

• Toronto Fire Services visited to share fire safety information with encampment residents and review the area, they did not observe any fire safety concerns

• Outreach staff are regularly visiting the site and working with encampment residents towards securing housing

• We are coordinating with local New Toronto Neighbourhood Officers to ensure safety for both encampment residents and neighbours of LAMP

• We are currently working with City staff and LAMP CHC to coordinate a cleanup of the area

Update – June 24, 2024

Last week, my team and I met with a small group, including:

• The Executive Director of LAMP,

• Members of the Toronto Police Service,

• City Staff from Toronto Shelter & Support Services - Street Outreach, and

• City Staff from Corporate Real Estate Management.

Following this meeting, my staff are coordinating with City Staff to:

• Look into repairing the fence next to the YMCA, where tents are currently leaned,

• Continue to conduct outreach with individuals living in the parking lot to relocate to permanent housing, and

• Investigate adding a chained barrier and updating signage to prevent further overnight parking.

Update – June 7, 2024

My office has been in touch with Streets to Homes and the Executive Director at LAMP CHC, and we will continue to share updates as they become available.

Permanent affordable and supportive housing is the solution to homelessness.

I am working with Mayor Chow and my fellow Councillors to move forward on policies that protect and expand our access to housing across the full housing spectrum – from emergency shelters to supportive housing to rental and ownership housing to long-term care for seniors. I will also continue to advocate to other orders of government to invest further in supportive housing and mental health and addictions service funding.

To advance this work, I am:

• Actively working with CreateTO to build more affordable and mixed-use housing on City-owned sites and championing the Council-adopted MURA program.

• Supporting the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods program to facilitate more “missing middle” low-rise housing in residential neighbourhoods to meet the needs of our growing city.

• Working closely with City Planning Staff and various City divisions and departments to advance healthy, responsible developments that increase density, increase our affordable housing supply, and increase access to social infrastructure like childcare and recreation spaces.

• Continuing to engage with other orders of government to invest in affordable housing and increase housing stock both locally in Ward 3 and across the City of Toronto.

You can read more about the steps the City is committed to taking to transform Toronto’s housing system and urgently build more affordable homes here.

Please call 311 to request help for individuals experiencing homelessness who may need support.

If you have concerns related to a new encampment, please contact 311 to provide details and the location of the encampment. The City will respond to new, established, or growing encampment locations by deploying various City resources and outreach services to respond and engage with individuals to determine their needs and offer services.

Securing permanent affordable and supportive housing is not easy. The demand across our city far outweighs the supply in Toronto when it comes to housing, and as a result we rely on stopgap measures like transitional housing programs and emergency shelters to house people temporarily.

Learn more about the City’s approach to encampment outreach and who you can contact for support here.

For those in immediate need of an emergency shelter in Toronto, please call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766 for assistance. Please note that access to all shelters in Toronto is only available through these two channels.