Toronto's large-scale shelter reconstruction costs taxpayers $1.5 million per resident!

The City of Toronto is advancing a $556 million CAD shelter redevelopment project.

According to BlogTo, the City of Toronto's George Street revitalization project aims to replace the Seaton House men's shelter, originally built in the 1950s and now at the end of its service life. This largest men's shelter in Toronto was initially intended as a temporary facility but will now be transformed into a modern integrated center with multiple functions.

According to the plan, the first phase of the project will construct a 10-story comprehensive building on the 309-345 George Street site. The new facilities will include 80 emergency shelter beds, 100 transitional shelter beds, 124 long-term care beds, 70 supportive housing units, and a 2,269 square meter community service center.

The main project budget is $556.437 million CAD, approved by the Toronto Shelter and Support Services Authority's capital budget for 2025-2034, with an average construction cost of approximately $1.5 million CAD per bed.

It is worth noting that the construction funds for the 70 supportive housing units will come separately from the Housing Secretariat's 2025 capital budget and the 2026-2034 plan, with a special allocation of $54,447,934 CAD.

Currently, the original residents of Seaton House have been gradually relocated to newly constructed shelters across various districts of Toronto.

Four new shelters have already been put into use under this project, and the last facility with 80 beds located at 2299 Dundas St. W. is currently under construction and nearing completion.

In addition, the city government is assessing the development potential of the southern section of the 295-305 George Street site, planning to add more affordable housing. Relevant official planning and zoning regulation amendments are expected to be submitted to the city council for review in the second half of 2025.

This series of measures means that Toronto is comprehensively upgrading its modernization level of homeless services and social facilities, providing a more complete support system for those in need.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829231537737740/

Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views only.