Residents protesting against the location of the Third Street homeless shelter.
City of Toronto officials seems to be listening to pressure from the community and back-peddling on some plans for a proposed Third Street homeless shelter.
New Toronto area residents in an e-mail from City staff on April 17 said the planned 80-bed homeless shelter will now be reduced to 50 beds catering to homeless seniors.
“The shelter capacity has also been reduced to 50 beds, to ensure there is space to accommodate accessibility needs that senior residents may have,” Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley said.
She said there’s ‘many senior residents living in encampments across Etobicoke-Lakeshore over the last year.’
Local councillor face irate residents at a meeting at Humber College in regards to the proposed shelter.
Morley said the 66 Third Street shelter site is next to a Toronto Seniors Housing building which means it may be possible for some of the homeless elderly to obtain permanent housing, services and programming.
A bombshell announcement by the City calling for an 80-bed municipal homeless shelter last December divided the community as some residents support the facility and others claim it is close to two schools and the seniors residence.
There has been a number of protests, angry feelings and meetings between irate residents and City staff in regards to the location of the facility. Five years ago the City tried to open a similar shelter at 2950-2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., but backed down due to protests from the community.
This encampment blocks away from the shelter site lasted for months before beds were found for the homeless.
This shelter will not open for three to five years, the City said. It is among 20 planned for different areas of the City.
It will be operated by the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre (CONC), an organization with more than 30 years of experience serving the vulnerable community.
CONC operates a 68-bed mens’ shelter on Lansdowne Avenue and a 30-bed shelter for men at 850 Bloor Street W.
City staff said there will be opportunities for residents to share in the building’s design and there will be a safety walk of the neighbourhood in the fall.