This report provides an update on the COVID-19 Shelter Transition and Relocation Plan, which was adopted by Council on April 6, 2022 to guide a phased, gradual transition from temporary shelter sites. This report provides an update on the phase 1 work plan approved in April 2022, and outlines next steps for phase 2 of the plan in 2023. There are currently 23 temporary sites operating as part of the City's shelter system, including shelter hotels and non-hotel sites. There is also a program that operates as a partnership with an Indigenous service provider independent of the City's shelter system. These temporary sites, the majority of which were created at the beginning of the pandemic to support physical distancing requirements in the shelter system, shelter approximately 3,000 individuals and are now providing about 30% of the spaces in the City's shelter system. With the wind-down of COVID-19 response funding for shelters from other orders of government, a thoughtful approach to gradually closing the sites is needed. A sudden reversal of these spaces would cause significant disruption to the vital services delivered through the sites and the vulnerable Torontonians who rely upon them. This report requests the authorities required to implement the COVID-19 Shelter Transition and Relocation Plan for 2023 and 2024. This includes the authority to enter into lease/licence extensions and agreements at temporary shelter sites to continue to support those programs beyond their current contract or lease end dates, and amendments to the associated service agreements. As part of phase 2 of the transition plan, up to five temporary shelter sites will be closed in 2023. If current projections change, the timelines for the plan will be revisited and an update will be provided to Council. The emergency shelter system plays an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of those experiencing homelessness, but the solution to homelessness is permanent affordable housing with supports. The success of the COVID-19 Shelter Transition and Relocation Plan is dependent on availability of additional deeply affordable and supportive housing opportunities for people to move out of shelter more quickly. While the City, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments as well as the non-profit sector, has moved rapidly to create almost 3,600 new affordable and supportive housing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness as part of the 24-Month Housing and Homelessness Plan (2021-2022), new and enhanced investments from the federal and provincial governments are necessary to scale up efforts to adequately address Toronto's homelessness challenges. In addition to new supply, investments in homelessness prevention and poverty reduction measures such as increases to social assistance benefit rates and housing benefit program allocations, which better respond to the actual cost of living in Toronto, are necessary to prevent more households from falling into deep poverty and homelessness.
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