Toronto’s Largest Shelter-to-Housing Conversion Creates 92 Permanent Homes for Formerly Homeless Residents

Toronto, ON — Mayor Olivia Chow marked a significant milestone today as the City of Toronto opened 92 newly renovated, permanent, rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes at 65 Dundas St. E. The latest initiative in Toronto’s efforts to combat homelessness, these homes offer individuals previously experiencing homelessness in the Downtown East a safe and supportive environment.

Originally leased by the City as an emergency COVID-19 shelter, 65 Dundas St. E. is undergoing a transformative redevelopment. Following extensive renovations funded through federal and City programs, the former Bond Place Hotel is being repurposed to create a total of 280 affordable rental homes by spring 2025. This project is the City’s largest shelter-to-housing conversion to date and is expected to help mitigate the pressing need for affordable and supportive housing in Toronto’s core.

The building now features private studio and one-bedroom apartments, each with a bathroom and kitchenette, with at least 15% of the units designed to be accessible. Residents also have access to shared amenities, including a dining area, communal and programming spaces, and on-site laundry facilities.

City of Toronto celebrates creation of 92 new rent-geared-to-income homes with supports at former shelter-turned-permanent housing at 65 Dundas St. E.

News release: https://t.co/000Ha7TDWD pic.twitter.com/Cjg2OFEvHN

— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) November 12, 2024

In partnership with Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services, which will manage the building and provide long-term support services, the development integrates a wide array of social, medical, and employment resources. Dixon Hall’s role will include assistance with life skills, wellness services, job training, and income support access. The organization, with a long-standing presence in the Downtown East community, has collaborated with several service providers, including St. Michael’s Hospital’s MMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions and Unity Health Toronto, to tailor health and support services for the residents.

“65 Dundas isn’t just an address; it’s a beacon of hope for those previously unhoused. It’s an example of the power of what can happen when we work together to address some of our city’s biggest challenges, like the housing crisis,” said Mayor Chow. “From starting as a temporary pandemic shelter to now being a place that 92 residents can permanently call home – with 280 affordable rental homes by spring 2025 – this has been an incredible journey.”

This initiative is part of the City’s broader Downtown East Action Plan, aiming to deliver both affordable housing and critical social services to vulnerable populations. The project was financed in part by more than $123 million in capital funding through the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative and supplemented by an additional $9.5 million in tax relief and incentives from the City. Ontario’s provincial government has also pledged $3.57 million in operating funds, part of a larger $48 million commitment over three years, to support supportive housing services.

Toronto’s 2020-2030 HousingTO Plan aims to deliver 65,000 new homes across the city, including 41,000 affordable units and 6,500 rent-geared-to-income homes. Yet, the City continues to emphasize the need for substantial federal and provincial funding, requesting over $20 billion in capital support and low-cost financing from both governments to meet the city’s housing goals over the next six years.

As Toronto’s housing crisis intensifies, the City is seeking to build on projects like 65 Dundas St. E. by expanding partnerships and resources to create more long-term housing solutions for residents across the income spectrum.

SOURCE City of Toronto