Our mission
Safer shelters.
Stronger neighbourhoods.
Safe Neighbourhoods Toronto advocates for a city where people experiencing homelessness receive dignity, meaningful support, and a path forward. Residents, families, children, and businesses should also be able to live and work in safe, livable communities.
What we believe
Both can be true.
We believe these goals belong together. Our mission is to help make shelter planning and operations more responsible, transparent, and accountable across Toronto.
Our commitments
How we put our mission into action.
Protect dignity
Support shelter services that respond to people’s needs with compassion, safety, and meaningful help.
Put safety first
Advocate for thoughtful locations, clear safeguards, and effective emergency-response procedures.
Demand accountability
Call for honest communication, transparent reporting, and measurable standards for every shelter.
Our principles
Grounded in care. Guided by evidence.
A shared set of principles keeps the work focused, humane, and accountable.
- Treatment & Recovery
- Safety
- Balance
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Livability
- Evidence-based planning
The neighbourhood issue
Where the conversation is happening.
SNT is made up of residents and businesses from neighbourhoods affected by current and proposed 24-hour emergency shelter sites.
The following locations and bed counts are SNT’s current list and should be checked against the latest City and operator information.
Our standard
A better approach is possible.
Shelters should
- Be appropriately and safely sited away from homes, schools, parks, childcare facilities, and senior residences.
- Provide meaningful pathways to addiction treatment and mental-health services.
- Maintain strong public-safety, security, cleanliness, and privacy standards.
- Publish transparent data on incidents, complaints, and corrective actions.
Shelters should not
- Create avoidable impacts that undermine the safety, privacy, or livability of surrounding neighbourhoods.
- Permit or facilitate public drug use or allow drug-use waste to affect surrounding areas.
- Compromise residents’ privacy or sense of security through repeated patrols or monitoring.