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December 20, 2024
Current Status:
As of December 20, the encampment at Little Norway Park has decreased to 14 tents with 13 people staying in the park. 10 encampments have been resolved since December 1 and 2,050 kg of waste has been removed since December 1, 2024.
On December 16, the Better Living Centre winter respite centre opened - 4 individuals have moved in while street outreach staff continue to prioritize referrals for people in Little Norway Park.
City staff are continuing to work towards the installation of a trailer and a full enhanced schedule of visits for community partners for early January. They are also working to establish the regular working group meetings for the new year, where my office, local service providers and City Staff will meet to review community feedback and guide encampment response to ensure people are housed as quickly and safely as possible.
Recent Updates:
Over the last few weeks, Streets to Homes have increased their visits in the park.
Another commitment from the November 6 meeting began this week: encampment prevention measures were initiated on Monday December 9th, a focused and intensive deployment of supports and resources with the overall goal of ensuring all residents move to indoor space.
Starting on December 16, the Better Living Centre will be open for the winter season with staff prioritizing referrals from Little Norway Park.
City staff are continuing to work towards the installation of a trailer and a schedule of visits for community partners by the end of December. They are also working to establish the regular working group meetings for the new year, where Deputy Mayor Malik, local service providers and City Staff will meet to review community feedback and guide encampment response to ensure people are housed as quickly and safely as possible.
The following enhanced services continue to be in place:
Since November 19 Corporate Security has been positioned at the park 24/7 to report new encampments and provide general security services. They conduct full rounds of the park and perimeter every hour and increase rounds based on the needs and activities in the park.
Since November 25 Community Safety Teams monitor the area 24/7 for needle sweeps, provide de-escalation, conflict resolution, crisis prevention and intervention supports. They can be reached through 211 or directly at 647-455-0062 or 647-455-2800.
Streets to Homes attends daily once or more for follow-ups regarding referrals. Housing workers also attend separately to support clients with housing-related items (ID, taxes, income, consent forms). Time spent on-site fluctuates based on the number of people present and their needs for the day.
Outreach staff from community partners have increased the level of outreach/presence in the park. Other partner agencies like MDOT and ICHA are also attending to provide specialized supports including:
• ID, taxes, income assistance.
• Housing supports.
• Access to safe indoor spaces (shelters, respite, hotel programs, warming centers).
• Harm reduction supports.
• Connecting individuals to resources for mental health, medical supports, counseling, drop-in centers, and warming centers.
Neighbourhood Community Officers are working closely with the Encampment Office to engage with residents and address safety concerns.
Toronto Fire Services provide fire safety education and information, conduct regular fire risk assessments.
Parks Ambassadors visit daily for litter cleanup and needle sweep. They attend up to 5 days a week to service drop zone locations and abandoned/relinquished encampments as needed.
With the cold and snowy weather, I continue to share our community’s concerns about emergencies, especially following the fire two weeks ago. Corporate Security monitor incidents and will alert City staff and emergency services, but you can also continue to reach out to 211 for crisis intervention or 911 for emergencies.
While we work with seriousness to address the situation at Little Norway and respond to community concerns, please consider adding your name to the petition to tackle homelessness by ensuring shelters are opened equitably across the city, not only in some neighbourhoods.
Thank you for your continued care and consideration, and for our continued work together.
All the best to you and your loved ones for a safe and joyful holiday season.
Ausma
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (she/her)
Toronto City Councillor - Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York
416-392-4044 | councillor_malik@toronto.ca
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