Toronto supportive housing initiative receives $25 million federal commitment

Build Canada Homes has announced a $25 million commitment to support the construction of approximately 80 supportive housing units near Toronto Western Hospital. This funding is part of the next phase of Toronto’s Social Medicine Housing Initiative, a program designed to integrate deeply affordable housing with primary care, mental health services, addiction support, and community services.

The broader initiative aims to add roughly 200 supportive homes across three sites, eventually bringing the total number of homes under the program to more than 300. Financial support for the expansion includes a $20 million contribution from the UHN Foundation and $19 million from the City of Toronto. Additional city incentives valued at approximately $27 million are currently subject to council approval.

The program builds on the success of Dunn House, which opened in 2024 to provide housing for 51 people formerly experiencing homelessness. Early data from the Dunn House model indicated a 52 per cent reduction in emergency department visits and a 79 per cent reduction in hospital length of stay among residents, resulting in approximately $2.1 million in hospital savings in less than two years.