Item - 2025.EC22.12

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Humber River Hospital, to report back in the fourth quarter of 2025 to the Economic and Community Development Committee on options for partnerships with local hospitals and health care providers, including Humber River Hospital, to develop opportunities for shelter spaces that ensure safe care plans and transition for vulnerable people transitioning from health care facilities and in need of health and housing supports.

In the 2024 Street Needs Assessment, 26% of all respondents reported an illness or medical condition, and those chronically homeless were more likely to experience multiple health challenges. When asked about the supports needed for health and well-being, 75% of all respondants expressed a need for assistance in accessing general health care or a family doctor.

We also know that, of those surveyed, those most unable to access a shelter bed were people experiencing homelessness who were currently in a health & treatment facility. People experiencing homelessness discharged from hospital often end up back in the emergency room, straining the resources of local hospitals and creating a situation not conducive to healing for those individuals. This highlights the need for emergency shelter services for those being discharged from hospitals or other health facilities, but who would still benefit from medical supervision or other general health care services.

Developing partnerships and a model for social medicine / medically-supervised emergency shelter is needed to support and operate future shelter programs focused on illness recovery for people experiencing homelessness. This is also an opportunity to learn lessons from social medicine housing, such as Dunn House operated by Fred Victor & University Health Network, to inform the planning of shelter services.