Item - 2025.EC22.3

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Parking Authority, to report back to Economic and Community Development Committee in the first quarter of 2026 on the feasibility of locating city-operated micro-shelters within underutilized TTC parking lots.

The Director, Service Planning and Integrity, Toronto Shelter and Support Services and the Manager, Strategic Programs, Toronto Shelter and Support Services gave a presentation on Highlights of the 2024 Street Needs Assessment.

This report provides an overview of the results of the 2024 Street Needs Assessment and Toronto Shelter and Support Services’ (TSSS) shelter infrastructure plan as part of the Council-approved Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS). It also provides an update on other TSSS shelter development projects, including the Housing and Shelter Infrastructure Development project (HSID) and the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project.  

In October 2024, TSSS conducted its sixth Street Needs Assessment (SNA), working collaboratively with community partners in the homelessness and allied sectors. This report provides key highlights of the main findings of the SNA, which directly inform HSCIS and TSSS’s upcoming Five-Year Strategic Plan.  

The report includes a summary of the City’s progress in the development of new shelters under HSCIS, including an update on new shelter locations confirmed to date. In alignment with HSCIS, this report provides an update on the Council-approved COVID-19 Shelter and Transition Plan, outlining next steps to decommission large shelter programs.

This report also responds to City Council’s direction in EC13.8 to explore the use of micro shelters as a rapid shelter program model on vacant or under-utilized City-owned lands. In order to support securing a potential location with a viable operating model, the City will release an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a partner-led micro shelter pilot initiative.

City Council on March 26 and 27, 2025, referred Administrative Inquiry IA28.2 from Councillor Chris Moise, Ward 13, Toronto Centre, regarding Micro-Shelters and Answer IA28.2a from the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services to the Economic and Community Development Committee for consideration.

As part of the Council-Approved Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS), Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS) is required to submit an annual update.

The report from the General Manager of  Toronto Shelter and Support Services will include an overview of the results of the 2024 Street Needs Assessment and updates on other TSSS shelter development projects, including the Housing and Shelter Infrastructure Development project (HSID, formerly 1000 beds) and the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project,  a summary of the City’s progress under HSCIS, an update on the Council-approved COVID-19 Shelter and Transition Plan, outlining next steps to decommission large shelter programs. Lastly the report  responds to City Council’s direction in EC13.8 to explore the use of micro shelters.