City officials say the planned shelters (above) will be ‘home like,’ pet friendly, low rise and feature aboriginal art.
More than 600 area residents have signed an online petition calling for a halt of construction of an 80-room homeless shelter in New Toronto.
Work is underway for the shelter that will be located on the site of a City parking lot at 66 Third Street. It is one of 19 shelters being built in the City that are slated for completion in 2030.
A petition was started by a resident identified as Karin K. on January 9 that has attracted a lot of attention, as expected.
More than 550 concerned residents have signed the petition in six days.
“This proposed facility will not only house those who are homeless but also accommodate refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals recently discharged from the local jail,” the petition states.
The 80-bed shelter for the homeless is being built on the site of a City parking lot on Third Street.
“… the fact that such a large-scale operation was passed without consulting the very people this decision affects, the residents as well as local businesses,” it noted, adding the planned facility is located close to a seniors residence and junior middle school.
It called for a pause in the project and public consultations with the community. This is the second attempt by City officials to build a large shelter in New Toronto. A 2020 attempt to install a 95-bed shelter at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W. failed due to community backlash against the plan.
Community reaction to the shelter has been mostly mixed by residents.
The planned shelter is being built to accommodate the homeless as those who were formerly camped outside LAMP CHC.
Some residents claim the area has a number of agencies for the needy, an upcoming home for the deaf and blind and the major South Etobicoke Detention Centre, on Horner Avenue.
“These sites will help respond to demand and stabilize the shelter system,” according to City officials. “The City is committed to working with the local community to support the success of the shelter”
The new facility will be less institutional and ‘more home-like,’ according to the City, and will feature natural materials and amenity spaces.
The suites will be smaller containing each about 80 single beds, will be better designed, help offset capacity as temporary shelter sites close and provide shelter in areas of significant of Black and Indigenous focused spaces.
The shelters will be decorated with art and symbols so people of different backgrounds feel welcome.
Pets will be allowed in the shelters, which will have spaces for counselling, harm reduction and other health care services, according to a report.
Similar shelters are planned for 1615 Dufferin Street, 2535 Gerrard Street E., 2024-2212 Eglinton Ave. W., 68 Sheppard Ave. and 1220 Wilson Avenue.
The petition can be found at change.org