Toronto to redirect asylum seekers from at-capacity shelters to federal programs

Toronto will startreferring eligible asylum-seekers away fromat-capacity shelters to federalprograms as of June 1amid an increasing demand for shelter by residents and refugees,Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said Wednesday.

The city will also be returning to pre-pandemic spacing of beds inside shelters as a way to increase theircapacity.

"The city's emergency shelter system shouldn't be the first stop for individuals seeking new beginnings in our country appropriate housing and support services should be in place and Toronto cannot do it without federal funding," said McKelvieata news conference.

According to the city, over the past 20 months, the number of asylum seekers in Toronto's shelter system has multiplied by more than 500 per cent, from a low of about 530 people per night in September of 2021 to more than 2,800 in May of 2023.

The citybudgets each year for 500 shelter spaces for asylum seekers per night, and according to a news release, an additional 2,300 refugee claimants are currently being accommodated despite the city having no additional funding for them.

"The current funding model for our emergency shelter services is not sustainable," said McKelvie.

She said the city is asking the federal government for$97 million for refugee shelterand $317 millionfor Toronto's regular shelter system from both the provincial and federal governmentsto keep up with the demand.

Increasing capacity

Temporary sites at 60 York St. and 808 Mount Pleasant Rd. will be decommissioned on Aug. 31, and around 350 residents will be impacted, according to the city.

To accommodate the residents, 400 additional beds will be created as the city will allow shelters to put in more beds in a single space.

"The city will return to its pre-pandemic shelter bed spacing. A safe, gradual approach will be taken to implement this change," said the city in a news release. "And the rigorous Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and other public health measures implemented during the pandemic will remain in place.

Since 2016, the city said, the number of shelter spaces in Toronto has expanded by 125 per cent from approximately 4,000 to 9,000 spaces needed daily. Despite adding more than 1,000 shelter spaces last year, the system remains at capacity most nights.