North Etobicoke’s Thistletown community is now home to our newest homeless shelter. Islington Seniors’ Shelter officially began welcoming men and women experiencing homelessness aged 55+ on December 15, 2018. Currently, 83 beds are available in beautiful 3 person rooms that are light-filled and include their own bathroom.

Over the course of 2019, renovations on the property transformed the three-storey building into the spacious and fully accessible final product, making it an ideal location to pilot the new City of Toronto shelter service model which ensures space is available for community programming.

Opening up a senior’s specific location responds to a need seen across the city as to the increase in seniors being affected by homelessness. According to the city’s 2018 Street Needs Assessment — which saw more than 8,000 people experiencing homelessness surveyed on April 26 across Toronto — 18.2 per cent of respondents were seniors aged 55 and up.