Item - 2026.EC29.9

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Received the report (May 25, 2026) from the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services for information.

The Director, Homelessness Initiatives and Prevention Services, Toronto Shelter and Support Services gave a presentation to the Economic and Community Development Committee on Progress Update on Drop-In Sector Stabilization Efforts.

Daytime drop-in programs are a key component of the housing and homelessness service continuum, providing low-barrier access to essential supports for individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness and contributing to stronger and more cohesive communities. Services may include meals, hygiene facilities (e.g., showers and laundry), social and recreational programming, and information and referrals, including to health services. Daytime drop-ins function as a critical access point for homelessness response, prevention and shelter diversion. Through Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS), the City of Toronto directly funds 23 daytime drop-in programs.

The daytime drop-in sector is under increasing pressure due to the affordability crisis, demands for social and recreational programming, growing food insecurity, and reduced access to community and clinical services with the closure of supervised consumption service sites, including two additional closures expected in June 2026. In this context, the stabilization efforts outlined in this report focus on sustaining the current drop-in service model.

In February 2026, City Council directed TSSS to work with the drop-in sector to establish a working group to review core wage principles, adequate resourcing and overall sector stabilization (CC38.1). TSSS partnered with the Toronto Drop-In Network (TDIN) to convene the working group, which began meeting in March 2026 to identify and prioritize actions to advance sector stabilization.

This report provides an update on the progress to date, including the launch of the working group, development of a structured engagement plan, key discussion themes from initial sessions, and preliminary findings.

Next steps include continued collaboration between TSSS, TDIN, and the working group to develop a prioritized set of draft recommendations and a stabilization plan aligned with City-wide priorities.