Toronto's homeless emergency now includes 1500-2500 people in encampments

Mayor Tory's refusal to declare homelessness a disaster and deal with it has meant the COVID-19 pandemic has left many more people without shelter, running water or hand-washing, drinking water, portable toilets or public health city services such as garbage pick-up.

"Though the numbers haven’t officially been released, Diana McNally, training and engagement coordinator at Toronto Drop-In Network, estimates there are currently between 1,500 to 2,500 people sleeping in encampments across the city.....

In terms of safety, I still think that [encampments] are the safest option barring putting people into permanent housing,” she said. “There are offers of temporary housing and hotels but it can be wildly damaging to put someone into a temporary space just to evict them three or four months down the line.

And helping those experiencing homelessness find permanent, affordable housing, is something McNally says the City has not done well

[The Rapid Access to Housing Initiative] only really placed 213 people and of those, 82 are in units that are going to be demolished. So when we talk about permanent housing basically they housed 131 people maximum.”