Item - 2026.HS12.4

The Housing Rights Advisory Committee recommends that: 

1. City Council advise the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada of the need for coordinated, ongoing, sustained investments in supportive housing in its advocacy efforts with provincial and federal governments, particularly in informing the renewal of the National Housing Strategy and calling specifically for:

a. increased federal investment in capital funding for rapid construction dedicated to delivering supportive housing for people exiting homelessness;

b. provincial operating funding for wrap-around support services in supportive housing; and

c. federal requirements within provincial health and homelessness transfers for operating funding for wrap-around supports.

2. Executive Committee request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services and the Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services to explore opportunities to provide additional supports and incentives to advance more City-led and non-profit led supportive housing development, including but not limited to:

a. continuing to prioritize supportive housing projects for capital and pre-development funding available through the City’s Rental Housing Supply Program;

b. continuing to prioritize City-owned land for supportive housing delivery;

c. converting existing appropriate shelter sites into supportive housing, in alignment with EC16.1.

3. Executive Committee request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services and the Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services identify opportunities to ensure people with lived experience of homelessness are meaningfully engaged in the design and delivery of the supportive housing in alignment with EC21.6, in the efforts to advance an all-of-City response to homelessness and support needs.

Toronto is facing an urgent and growing homelessness and housing crisis that continues to place significant strain on individuals, communities, and existing social housing systems. Encampments, shelter overcapacity, and increasing demand for rent-geared-to-income housing reflect a system under pressure and in need of immediate, coordinated intervention.

A key gap in the current system is the lack of appropriate supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness—particularly those living with complex mental health and addiction challenges. Without adequate supports, many individuals struggle to maintain stable housing, contributing to cycles of eviction, homelessness, and overburdened social housing infrastructure. The City must take action to alleviate strain on shelters and ensure tenants can access homes with appropriate levels of support.

To address these challenges, the City must continue to advance a permanent supportive housing model—built rapidly using prefabricated modular units and paired with wrap-around supports—prioritizing a practical, scalable, and proven solution. When combined with strong intergovernmental funding and inclusive planning, this approach can stabilize vulnerable populations, helping to reduce evictions and returns to homelessness, and break the cycle of housing instability. This can also serve to reduce system pressures and create a pathway toward long-term housing security and community integration.

This approach emphasizes urgency, dignity, and long-term sustainability—ensuring all residents have access to safe, supportive housing and a path toward stability. In order to achieve this, the City must continue to take steps to advocate for increased intergovernmental funding and coordination, prioritize maximum available resources to deliver more supportive housing and ensure those with lived experience of homelessness are meaningfully involved in informing ongoing advancement of the City’s supportive housing programs.