Item - 2025.HL26.4
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 23 and 24, 2025 without amendments and without debate.
- This item was considered by Board of Health on July 7, 2025 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 23 and 24, 2025.
HL26.4 - Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) Program
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted on Consent
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 23 and 24, 2025, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the continued implementation and operation of the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program, as outlined in the report (June 26, 2025) from the Acting Medical Officer of Health.
2. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into or continue agreements or other arrangements with the Toronto Police Service and/or other service organizations and agencies for the operation of the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program on terms satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
Background Information (Board)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-256666.pdf
(July 4, 2025) Presentation from the Acting Director, Toronto Public Health and the Chief Superintendent, Toronto Police Service on City of Toronto Downtown Community Outreach Response & Engagement (CORE) Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-257110.pdf
Communications (Board)
Communications (City Council)
HL26.4 - Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) Program
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Recommendations
The Board of Health recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the continued implementation and operation of the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program, as outlined in the June 26, 2025 report from the Acting Medical Officer of Health.
2. City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to enter into or continue agreements or other arrangements with the Toronto Police Service and/or other service organizations and agencies for the operation of the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program on terms satisfactory to the Medical Officer of Health and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Board of Health:
1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health with evaluation results and recommendations for the next steps of the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program in the first quarter of 2026.
2. Directed the Medical Officer of Health to identify and pursue opportunities to participate in a neighbourhood impact study being led by the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area as far as is permissible under relevant legislation and policies.
3. Directed the Medical Officer of Heath to ensure coordination between the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program and the Homelessness Addiction Recovery and Treatment Hub, as well as the All-of-City Response to Homelessness and Support Needs, including through referral pathways between services and integrated case management.
The Acting Director, Clinical Services, Toronto Public Health, and the Chief Superintendent, Toronto Police Services, gave a presentation on Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) Program.
Origin
Summary
In 2024, Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Police Service launched the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) program as a one-year pilot to address complex health and social service needs among individuals experiencing homelessness, and challenges with mental health and substance use in the Yonge-Dundas (Sankofa Square) area. The program pairs public health nurses with police constables to deliver integrated, low-barrier, mobile outreach and case management services.
The program aims to connect individuals with health, social, and wraparound services, including harm reduction interventions, through voluntary, trauma-informed, client-centered engagement. The model aligns with the City’s Our Health, Our City Strategy, advances the City’s SafeTO Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, and applies a public health lens to community safety and well-being.
This report provides an overview of the program and seeks City Council authority to continue its implementation. Toronto Public Health will provide an update on the program, including the results of an evaluation, to the Board of Health upon completion of the pilot period in the first quarter of 2026 and seek the Board of Health’s direction on the future of the program beyond the pilot year.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-256666.pdf
(July 4, 2025) Presentation from the Acting Director, Toronto Public Health and the Chief Superintendent, Toronto Police Service on City of Toronto Downtown Community Outreach Response & Engagement (CORE) Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-257110.pdf
Communications
Motions
That:
1. The Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Health to identify and pursue opportunities to participate in a neighbourhood impact study being led by the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area as far as is permissible under relevant legislation and policies.
2. The Board of Health direct the Medical Officer of Heath to ensure coordination between the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement program and the Homelessness Addiction Recovery and Treatment Hub, as well as the All-of-City Response to Homelessness and Support Needs, including through referral pathways between services and integrated case management.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jul-07-2025
| Result: Carried | Majority Required |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 8 | Members that voted Yes are Alejandra Bravo, Lily Cheng, Chris Moise (Chair), Charles Ozzoude, Anthony Perruzza, Suman Roy, Ramanjeet Singh, Stephanie Zhou |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Abinaya Chandrabalan (Interest Declared), Lindsay Kretschmer, Ida Li Preti, Michael Thompson |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-07-2025
| Result: Carried | Majority Required |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 8 | Members that voted Yes are Alejandra Bravo, Lily Cheng, Chris Moise (Chair), Charles Ozzoude, Anthony Perruzza, Suman Roy, Ramanjeet Singh, Stephanie Zhou |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 4 | Members that were absent are Abinaya Chandrabalan (Interest Declared), Lindsay Kretschmer, Ida Li Preti, Michael Thompson |
Declared Interests
Abinaya Chandrabalan - as one of her clients operates a property in the CORE pilot area.
Written Declaration: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/declared-interest-file.do?id=12581