Item - 2022.EC31.21

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration in consultation with other relevant City divisions report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the third quarter of 2023 with an update on the progress of implementation and recommendations, including resource requirements, for Phase 2 of the Downtown East Action Plan. 

2. City Council request the Province of Ontario, (particularly the Ministries of Health; Children, Community and Social Services; the Solicitor General; the Attorney General, and Municipal Affairs and Housing), and the Government of Canada (particularly Health Canada; Department of Justice Canada; the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) collaborate and directly partner with the City and other stakeholders to establish and implement the following priorities from the Downtown East Action Plan:

a. Health, including mental health, investments both capital and operating, that align with the critical needs of the city's vulnerable communities, particularly wraparound responses and options for those experiencing mental health, developmental disabilities or substance use challenges.

b. Supportive housing and housing stability program investments to align with the principles and goals of the Downtown East Housing Strategy and the HousingTO 2020 - 2030 Action Plan.

This report details the progress of implementation of the Downtown East Five Year Action Plan. The Downtown East Action Plan was developed to address a number of complex and entrenched challenges in the area related to poverty, homelessness, housing, community safety, mental health and substance use, particularly the drug poisoning crisis. Implementation of the plan began in July 2019 following City Council approval of the Five Year Action Plan and a Work Plan to guide the first phase of work.

The majority of actions in the Work Plan have been advanced, although the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the trajectory of implementation as many City and community serviced were required to pivot to address critical needs and deep vulnerabilities across Toronto. Through significant cross-divisional and multi-sectoral collaboration, a number of initiatives have been launched to advance the Action Plan and, with the onset of the pandemic, to address emerging issues in the Downtown East area. Investments were made in initiatives that provide outreach and crisis intervention, enhance supports for individuals experiencing marginalization, deliver trauma-informed training and supports for frontline staff and advance actions to enhance safety for all community members. Through actions and partnerships, the Action Plan has begun to respond to the issues in the area. However, as noted in the recommendations, engagement from multiple parties including all levels of government is needed to address the entrenched challenges in this area.

This report provides:

-  An update on the progress on implementation of the Downtown East Action Plan, including a detailed summary outlining the status of Work Plan actions and outcomes, provided as Attachment A;

-  An overview of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Downtown East area and on the issues that are addressed by the Action Plan;

-  An outline of significant changes to the Downtown East context including City strategic policy and program additions that have occurred since the Action Plan was approved;

-  Details of next steps to be advanced in the implementation of the Action Plan.