A philanthropic group has committed $25 million to create an innovative, evidence-based program aimed at moving people experiencing homelessness in Toronto from the streets into supportive housing with comprehensive services.
Slaight Family Housing Lab Initiative
The funds will support a research centre at St. Michael’s Hospital and United Way Greater Toronto in launching the Slaight Family Housing Lab. This program prioritizes a housing-first strategy, providing immediate shelter alongside tailored support services.
Dr. Stephen Hwang, director of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital, highlights the lab’s reliance on research proving the effectiveness of housing-first models. The initiative partners with the City of Toronto to secure available supportive housing units while case management teams prepare individuals on the streets, including obtaining identification and resolving tax issues for eligibility.
Addressing Long Waitlists and Ongoing Needs
Toronto’s social housing waitlist exceeded 100,000 names in 2025. Yet Hwang remains confident the program can house 300 people over five years, drawing from past successful city collaborations. Support continues post-housing, with teams assisting participants for years in accessing clinical care, addiction treatment, employment services, and more to promote long-term stability.
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 responses to individual circumstances.
Key Partners and Health System Impact
Network organizations like Na-Me-Res, which aids Indigenous men, and Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services, focused on women facing homelessness, will play central roles.
Hwang notes the lab’s potential to ease pressure on Toronto’s health-care system, as people experiencing homelessness visit emergency departments at higher rates than the general population. A comparable project, Dunn House, has succeeded in housing frequent ER users and benefiting the University Health Network.
Toward Scalable Solutions
The Slaight Family Housing Lab seeks to develop a replicable model for other Canadian cities. Hwang views it as progress against chronic homelessness but stresses the need for broader action. “If we’re going to invest more funds, we need to invest them in long-term solutions, not in short-term Band-Aids,” he stated. “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.”
Ontario’s homelessness reached nearly 85,000 people in 2025, an 8% rise from the previous year, according to a reports the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. The Slaight Family Foundation, established in 2008 by Canadian radio pioneer Allan Slaight, underscores the urgency of front-line interventions in Toronto’s crisis.
