Photo credit: CBC
A philanthropic organization says it’s donating $25 million to establish a new system for tackling homelessness in Toronto that will use an evidence-based approach to move people off the streets and into supportive housing.
Toronto Today reports that the Slaight Family Foundation says the money will go to a St Michael’s Hospital research centre, as well as non-profit United Way Greater Toronto, to establish the Straight Family Housing Lab, a program that aims to put roofs over people’s heads while providing wraparound services.
Dr Stephen Hwang, director of St Michael Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, says the new program draws on the centre’s research into the benefits of a housing- first approach.
He says the housing lab will work with the City of Toronto to identify open supportive housing units while case management teams work with people living on the street to get them ready to move.
He also says the pre-move help can include getting people identification and ensuring they’re in good tax standing so they can be eligible for supportive housing units and other benefits.
The wait list for social housing in Toronto was more than 100,000 names long in 2025, but Hwang says he’s optimistic the program can successfully house 300 people over five years based on the MAO Centre’s previous collaboration with the city.
