Toronto's homeless population is in the high thousands and inclusive shelter for the city's most vulnerable is urgently needed.
In response to this reality, Mayor John Tory has announced 24 new affordable, supportive units at 292 and 296 Parliament Street, which will be geared at individuals and families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The building -- acquired by the City in 2021 and renovated thereafter -- contains a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, as well as shared laundry, communal areas, and programming spaces.
The building is operated by St. Jude Community Homes (SJCH) -- an experienced non-profit housing provider. SJCH operates three other buildings in the area and has a significant stake in the community. They will provide 24/7 support for tenants, on-site programming, and meal programs. In addition, SJCH will partner with COTA Health and other downtown east community organizations to provide comprehensive support to building residents.
"We're proud to open 292-296 Parliament St. and provide 24 affordable homes for Toronto families," said Mayor John Tory yesterday. "This project is possible through our strong partnership with the federal and provincial governments. I am committed to continuing to work with these governments to get more housing built so that we continue to provide some of our most vulnerable residents with safe and affordable places to call home."
READ: Toronto City Council Votes in Favour of Raising Development Charges Nearly 50%
The Parliament Street development is part of the city's Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) -- launched in October 2020 at the height of COVID-19 under the National Housing Strategy. The RHI acknowledges the severity of Toronto's homelessness problem and has been rolled out in phases.
Across Phase 1 and 2, over $400 million was put towards new affordable and supportive housing. An additional $1.5 billion was dedicated to the RHI through Budget 2021. To date, the RHI has added close to 1,000 affordable homes to Toronto's market.
The RHI is just one of several steps the government is taking to support the City's homeless. At a local level, the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan will create 40,000 new affordable rental homes in the city, including 18,000 supportive homes and 1,000 modular homes. Provincially, the Government of Ontario has committed $27 million in operating funding to the creation of new supportive homes in Toronto.
