In July, the city of Toronto opened a new homeless shelter at the Roehampton Hotel (808 Mt Pleasant Road), which is across the street from Northern Secondary School. It has a two-year lease (with the option of extending a third year), has a capacity of 174, and houses a mix of singles and couples of all genders. Staff are considering making an application for this location to include a Supervised Consumption Site for its residents. Its reception has been mixed, as local residents were not properly informed about its establishment, and a wide range of safety and conduct issues have arisen in the area since then.
The city is working with Toronto Police Services to address these issues, and they have invited members of the local school communities (trustees, principals, school councils) to be part of developing a school safety plan that will be implemented by the time school starts. The plan will be continually refined as needs arise or change. The draft plan is scheduled to be released soon and will be shared here when available.
Since we represent parents at Northern, our highest priority is student safety. We support our city caring for vulnerable citizens, but it must not happen at our students' expense. To that end, we will be focusing our efforts on communication and education on safety and the issues behind homelessness.
Police and the Shelter want to hear from the community directly, as its reporting helps them to monitor the impact and needs for the clients and the community accurately.
The city is working with Toronto Police Services to address these issues, and they have invited members of the local school communities (trustees, principals, school councils) to be part of developing a school safety plan that will be implemented by the time school starts. The plan will be continually refined as needs arise or change. The draft plan is scheduled to be released soon and will be shared here when available.
Since we represent parents at Northern, our highest priority is student safety. We support our city caring for vulnerable citizens, but it must not happen at our students' expense. To that end, we will be focusing our efforts on communication and education on safety and the issues behind homelessness.
Police and the Shelter want to hear from the community directly, as its reporting helps them to monitor the impact and needs for the clients and the community accurately.
- Shelter Contact Information - For non-emergencies, call the shelter Shift Supervisor at 437-247-2287. They can dispatch Community Safety Teams (in green labelled safety vests) 24/7.
- Police - For emergencies that require police or EMS please call 9-1-1. To report crimes that pose no immediate threat to safety, call 416-808-2222 (53 Division).
- Donations - The shelter is accepting donations of toiletries (no clothing, please).
- Communication - Direct concerns by email to Josh Matlow, city councillor for Ward 12, and cc the mayor. Opening the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) is a provincial decision, so those concerns would be addressed to the Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu. Click here to download a SCS Feedback Letter Template.
- Roehampton Residence Newsletter #3 - Jan, 2021
- Roehampton Residence Newsletter #2 - Dec 5, 2020
- School Council's Roehampton Residence Committee Update - Nov 25, 2020
- School Council's Roehampton Residence Committee Update - Oct 27, 2020
- Personal Safety - Information on how to protect yourself from crime
- Drug Free Kids - A non-profit organization dedicated to preventing abuse and misuse of drugs.
- Roehampton School Safety Plan (Sept 11, 2020) - This is a living document that will continue to be updated as adjustments and improvements are made to the plan.
- Roehampton Residence - City of Toronto's description of the residence, it's purpose and community engagement opportunities.
- 53 Division Community Safety Sheet and 53 Division Infographic - How to Report a Crime
- Roehampton Residence Community Bulletin #4
- August 31, 2020 Letter from Principal Adam Marshall