A philanthropic group announces a $25 million donation to launch an innovative, evidence-based initiative aimed at ending homelessness in Toronto. The funds support the creation of the Slaight Family Housing Lab, partnering with a St. Michael’s Hospital research centre and United Way Greater Toronto to transition individuals from streets into supportive housing with comprehensive services.
Housing-First Approach in Action
Dr. Stephen Hwang, director of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital, highlights the program’s reliance on proven housing-first strategies. The lab collaborates with the City of Toronto to secure available supportive housing units. Case management teams prepare street-dwelling individuals by securing identification and resolving tax issues for eligibility.
Toronto’s social housing waitlist exceeds 100,000 names in 2025, yet Hwang remains confident the initiative can house 300 people over five years, drawing from past city partnerships. Support continues post-move, with teams providing long-term access to clinical care, addiction treatment, employment services, and more to promote stability.
Tailored Support and Key Partners
Heather McDonald, president and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto, emphasizes the lab’s commitment to “doing whatever it takes to get people into housing,” customizing services to individual circumstances. Network organizations, such as Na-Me-Res for Indigenous men and Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services for women experiencing homelessness, play central roles.
Benefits for Health Care and Beyond
Hwang notes the lab’s potential to ease pressure on Toronto’s health system, as homeless individuals visit emergency departments at higher rates than the general population. A comparable housing-first project, Dunn House, has succeeded in supporting frequent ER users through the University Health Network.
The physician stresses that while the lab advances solutions for chronic homelessness, broader efforts are essential. “If we’re going to invest more funds, we need to invest them in long-term solutions, not in short-term Band-Aids,” Hwang states. “That’s why this $25-million gift is so wonderful because it’s doing both of those things. It’s addressing urgent needs but it’s also creating long-term solutions.”
Replicable Model Amid Rising Crisis
The initiative seeks to develop a scalable model for other Canadian cities. Ontario reports nearly 85,000 homeless individuals in 2025, an 7.8% rise from the previous year. The Slaight Family Foundation, established in 2008 by Canadian radio pioneer Allan Slaight, underscores the crisis’s urgency and backs frontline interventions.
