Dear Supporters, We received the below correspondence regarding the plans for 629 Adelaide St W on November 16, 2023. As the City has indicated the site will no longer be a 24-hour low barrier respite, NNCS is transitioning to a new phase of our opposition campaign and is closing the current petition. We thank you all for the amazing support! This is by no means an acceptance of how the City has handled this situation and we will continue to fight to protect our community. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes and NNCS will provide updates on the campaign via email. Sign up for our email list here: https://tinyurl.com/subscribetonncs ********** From: Adelaide <629adelaidestw@gmail.com> Date: Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 3:00 PM Subject: Update on 629 Adelaide Street West Good Afternoon, Over the last several weeks, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) and Barnes Management Group, the Community Engagement Facilitator, met with several community members, held multiple stakeholder discussions including with leadership at St. Mary’s Catholic School, and received feedback, questions, and concerns about the upcoming program at 629 Adelaide St W. operated by St. Felix Centre. Thank you for your interest and participation on the engagement for this site. We have been listening closely to what you have shared. The major themes of inquiry received or heard were questions about how the location was sited, programming details, safety of community residents and especially children, and need for community engagement. SSHA has also met with local organizations around 629 Adelaide St. W., other City divisions, and the Toronto Police to develop a holistic approach to safety and security at this location. Shelter locations are sited by City staff. SSHA has the authority to enter new or amend existing agreements with landlords to maintain or add respite or shelter beds to respond to urgent needs in the shelter system. City Councillors and community members are not consulted on shelter location but are engaged on how to make the program a success. Please see below several initiatives and changes we are making that will allow us to continue to support people experiencing homelessness in Toronto and address some of the feedback we have received. Program Changes The site will now open as a shelter for single adults of all genders, instead of a 24-hour low barrier respite. Based on the change to shelter, we are aiming to open the site in Spring 2024 with a capacity of approx. 50 beds. A variety of factors influenced the change to the service model, including community feedback, available budget, and a further assessment of the layout and square footage of the space. This program was originally a relocation of the respite program operated by St. Felix Centre at 25 Augusta Ave. which closed in July 2023 to be converted into new affordable housing. A 10-year lease for 629 Adelaide St. W. is finalized between St. Felix Centre and the landlord. An alternate location for this service is not being considered. As a shelter, the site will have mandatory intake triage processes and provide comprehensive case management and housing support for all clients, with a focus on helping them secure permanent housing as quickly as possible. Shelters provide wrap-around supports and space for recreation and programming, mental health and crisis management, and income/employment supports. There is an expectation that clients of the program will participate in case management activities and work on a housing plan. Operational Details The site will be staffed 24/7 by individuals who are social workers, social service workers or people with lived experience trained in providing case management for housing and supports, mental health and harm reduction services, de-escalation, conflict resolution, crisis prevention, and intervention and management. All team members are trained to respond to immediate non-police or non-EMS-related matters when made aware by the community. Primary health care services will also be available on-site including access to mental health support. The building will be equipped with access control, video surveillance systems and improved lighting. An enclosed outdoor space is also being designed for St. Felix guests to gather in with picnic tables and beautification features. Community Safety Teams will be recruited to provide 24/7 outreach in the community and to support the successful integration of the shelter program. These staff will have eyes on the community outside the shelter and can also safely dispose of any drug paraphernalia found. Proactive and ongoing work will also occur with the local schools. The ongoing use of a community safety team will be reassessed over time and redeployed as needed. Next Steps We hope to continue to engage with the community in future small solution-focused discussions. A Community Liaison Committee will be established with key community stakeholders including local BIA, resident associations, condo associations, other local service providers and Toronto Police Neighbourhood officers. We are also exploring options to hold an on-site open house and information meeting closer to the opening of the site. We will be adding a Community Liaison Worker position to the St. Felix staff team to engage with community members, local businesses and residential associations to both respond to concerns and to seek opportunities for partnership and collaboration. The City is hosting a virtual Public Information Session for all community members on November 22 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. This session is organized as part of the Community Engagement Plan and will provide another opportunity for community members to be informed about the site from the City and St. Felix Centre. There will be time available to ask questions related to the information presented at this event. Details are available on our webpage at www.toronto.ca/629AdelaideStW Questions can be submitted to 629adelaidestw@gmail.com before the Public Information Session on November 22, 2023. Thank you, Community Engagement Facilitators 629adelaidestw@gmail.com