The City of Toronto is hoping a new approach that focuses on connecting people with social services and shelters can help eliminate a large homeless encampment in Dufferin Grove Park.
Starting next month, the city will implement what it calls an “enhanced outreach model” at the park, which includes daily health and social support visits, litter removal and 24/7 security.
It also includes an “imprint prevention plan” to prevent new tents from popping up by referring people to shelters before they set up camp.
“We know that housing and shelter bring the best outcomes for everyone involved, and our focus remains on getting as many people in as possible,” said Alice von Scheel, senior communications advisor for the City of Toronto, in an email.
As of last week, the park had 33 tents, down from 47 in November, von Scheel said.
Count. Alejandra Bravo, who represents the area, held a meeting last week to get feedback from residents about the new strategy.
Bravo said she believes the approach of connecting people with housing and social supports is more effective than removing camps by force.
The city came under fire in the summer of 2021 for forcibly evacuating encampments in Trinity Bellwoods, Alexandra and Lamport Parks, which saw police officers in riot gear clear the sites of residents and their supporters and resulted in dozens of people facing charges.
“We know it doesn't work. We know it displaces people from one park or another place to another,” she said.
“What's working now is an approach that starts with care and roofs and services and supports. We need more of that.”
But Bravo is concerned that unless the government can address the affordable housing crisis, the city will be dealing with encampments for years to come.
“We can continue to do this work, but without affordable housing supply, it's not going to slow down.”
A recent report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario found that more than 81,000 Ontarians were homeless in 2024 – a 25 per cent increase from 2022.
If the situation continues, the report says homelessness is on track to triple to 294,000 by 2035.
Camp residents are suspicious
One man who has lived in Dufferin Grove Park for about eight months says he's seen city staff doing outreach in the park, and doubts the new strategy will work.
“They say it's their refined approach that they're going to do, but it's practically what they're already doing. It's no different than what they're actually already doing right now,” said Cai, who was identified only by the CBC. their first names due to privacy concerns.
Kai says until the city finds places for people to go, people will continue to live in the park. She said she had been trying to move into subsidized housing for months.
“I constantly get the feedback that there is no place, there is no place, there is no place, we have nothing.”
Some area residents who spoke to the CBC said the camps don't make them feel unsafe, but worry for those who have no choice but to stay in the park.
“I'm more concerned about the fact that we have a lot of neighbors that don't have anywhere indoors to be safe on their own,” said Julia Prime, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years.. Prime said the camp residents have not stopped her from coming to the park regularly with her children.
“I think they are more at risk than me and my family coming to use the park.”
Domenic Bellissimo has lived in the area for nearly 40 years, and worries that the camps are becoming common.
“I know it's complicated, I feel for the people who have to be in this situation, but I hope the politicians see that it's so desperate, we don't get our park and they don't get enough housing.”
