Toronto/CMEDIA: A staff report has been presented reportedly by The City of Toronto to improve the resiliency of shelter system ensuring better protection of staff as well as clients in the emergency shelter system.
“Health and safety are paramount in shelter settings…steps in the Shelter Safety Action Plan…in keeping staff and people experiencing homelessness safe,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has said.
If adopted by the Economic and Community Development Committee on Tuesday, November 26 and at Toronto City Council in December, the measures in the Shelter Safety Action Plan (SSAP) will implement 14 actions over the next three years.
Deliverance of the implemented actions is subject to the recommendations from the Shelter Safety Study, commissioned by the City and conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
“Important research commissioned by the City of Toronto and CAMH…new plan proposes important steps like increasing training and support…to address mental health supports, harm reduction services, and crisis intervention and resolution …a shelter…first step towards a permanent home…connections to health care and support services are also critical,” Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Davenport), Chair, Economic and Community Development Committee has said.
The rate of incidents in the shelter system being similar to issues experienced in other service settings, the study showed the far-reaching impacts of the mental health crisis.
“Our research…shows how far reaching the mental health crisis…City of Toronto …undertaking action to advance our recommendations…improve safety in shelter settings…of many people experiencing homelessness, shelter staff, and key informants,” Dr. Nick Kerman, Scientific Associate, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has said.
Safety and respectful treatment of staff and clients, being of the most frequent concerns in the shelter system, violent, abusive or harassing behaviour should not be tolerated.
Developed in consultation with shelter providers, community stakeholders and people with lived experience of homelessness, SSAP takes steps to address the root causes of the complex factors that contribute to these behaviours.
Steps in the Action Plan include:
Establishing measures that protect the physical and psychological well-being and safety of staff and clients, particularly to support Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals including implementation of new tools to track and notify staff of incidents of anti-Black racism to enact safety plans to help mitigate racism in the shelter system, and enhaning support for staff following serious occurrences.
Reviewing and strengthening training for staff including additional training in targeted areas such as supporting clients who use methamphetamines.
Working with partners to facilitate and expand access to health care, mental health supports, crisis intervention and enhanced harm reduction services.
Identifying clients with high rates of incidents and service restrictions to ensure they are properly supported and connected to appropriate housing that meets their needs.
Developing enhanced interventions such as specialized programs to support people with extensive histories of violence and service restrictions.
Improving policy guidance for the shelter sector on the use and consistency of service restrictions.
Clarifying the process for clients to access information on their service restrictions, as well as complaint resolution processes.
In addition to the SSAP, several actions have already been taken to ensure the safety of clients and staff including trauma-informed de-escalation training, implementing a risk alert system for clients with histories of behavioural issues and investments in mental health and harm reduction services.
Key actions taken to date:
Implemented a strategy to support wellness, create a trauma-informed culture and improve operational process to support shelter staff.
Implemented the Behavioural Risk Alert Safety System which denotes clients with histories of violent behaviour so that staff can undertake proactive safety planning.
Deployed a Confronting Anti-Black Racism team to support staff in creating safer spaces for Black staff and clients in shelters.
Augmented safety infrastructure in City-operated shelter sites to improve standards for threat evaluation, emergency response and risk mitigation including in new shelter sites built through the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS).
Facilitated access to health, mental health and harm reduction services across the system (such as in shelters, 24-hour respites, street outreach and drop-ins) so people can receive sustained access to health care services that are timely, equitable and meet the unique needs of each individual.
Strengthened harm reduction supports in shelters in response to the drug toxicity crisis and in accordance with provincial guidance and legislation on harm reduction.
The Action Plan is available on the City’s website:
