City to expand emergency drop-ins
Council votes to expand number of locations where people can seek shelter during cold winter weather.

TheStar.com
July 6, 2017
Emily Mathieu

Toronto’s winter drop-in program will provide shelter for more people in urgent need this year, following a vote by city council to expand the number of locations where people can escape the cold.

The decision means the number of spaces in the 24-hour program will increase from 160 to 300 and will stay open from Nov. 15, to April 15, an extension from years past. The number of locations will also rise, from three to up to five, as will staff levels to provide additional housing services.

“Based on usage last winter, we anticipate doubling the number of sleeping spaces will provide sufficient space for anyone needing to come inside and not wishing to access the shelter system,” said Patricia Anderson, with the city’s shelter, support and housing administration division, in an email.

The changes were based on recommendations made by division staff and approved by council on Wednesday, without debate. The city will also be securing more motel rooms to manage winter overflow from the emergency shelter system.

Last season, there were three 24-hour cold weather drop-ins. People sleep on mats and are given snacks, but not full meals at all locations.

In February, the Star reported on the story of Pierre Gregoire, who was welcomed and fed at a drop-in, but left after being told there was nowhere to sleep. He then died of an overdose in a KFC bathroom.

During the colder months people also flock to the Out of the Cold program, a volunteer interfaith initiative at 16 locations, on a rotating schedule. This year, faith leaders said a lack of city services resulted in overflows and people being turned away on the coldest nights. City staff also recommended exploring the expansion of those programs and seeking out as many as 90 new spots at new locations.

Street nurse and activist Cathy Crowe said the drop-in expansion was good news, but she had concerns about implementation, both in terms of finding sites and providing services for people. It is also critically important that any agencies that take on 24-hour service receive enough support, she said.

“As well as they do the job it takes a toll,” she said.

She wants the planning and implementation process to be transparent, to ensure standards are maintained.

Also adopted, was a report by the city’s ombudsman, recommending the shelter division set clear capacity targets for cold-weather drop-ins, formalize a contingency plan in case of overflow and better respond to public concerns.

The ombudsman found the city’s shelter division had not provided a “clear response” to “repeated public expressions” during the 2016/2017 year that there was not enough space for people seeking refuge from the cold.

It was also “unclear” what contingency plans were in place if capacity was exceeded, according to the report.

Anderson said the additional spaces should be sufficient and they will work with service providers to improve the referral process and how they collect, report and use data.

“We recognize that we need to do a better job in training staff throughout the system in the importance of contacting central intake for direction on what to do when nearing capacity limits,” she wrote.

They will also be upping social media use, including launching an app that shows where shelter can be found.

Councillor Joe Cressy said the reports further spelled out the considerable challenges that come with trying to safely shelter the most marginalized, whether for one night or through more long-term solutions.

“Permanent housing doesn't work for everybody right away,” which is why a range of options are needed, from low-barrier drop-ins and emergency shelters to transitional and permanent housing, he said.

He praised the addition of more front-line staff to help people find longer-term shelter.

“We should live in a city that doesn’t require winter drop-ins,” said Cressy.