Toronto City Council has approved a new approach to clearing encampments near schools and childcare facilities, voting 16–3 on Thursday to implement a “three-offer” policy that limits how many times outreach workers will attempt to place encampment residents in shelters before moving to clear a site.
The new rules apply to encampments located within 50 metres of schools, playgrounds and daycares. Under the policy, if outreach staff make three offers of shelter — even if shelter spaces are full — the city will then proceed with clearing the encampment.
Shift Away From Relationship-Based Approach
The decision marks a significant shift from Toronto’s June 2024 encampment protocol, which emphasized building relationships with people living outdoors and supporting gradual transitions into indoor housing. That framework had been introduced in response to a scathing Ombudsman report criticizing the city’s aggressive clearing of park encampments in 2021, where officials were said to have “chosen speed over people.”
City spokesperson Elise von Scheel said more details on the new policy will be released in the coming weeks, stressing that Toronto remains committed to supporting people experiencing homelessness while ensuring “communities have access to their local parks.”
How the Debate Began
The discussion stemmed from a motion by Coun. Brad Bradford (Beaches–East York), who proposed a far stricter rule: mandatory removal of any encampment within 200 metres of a school, daycare or playground within 48 hours of being reported. Staff warned this would cover approximately 80% of the city’s 255 encampments.
However, staff cautioned that imposing a hard timeline could open the city up to legal challenges, noting Ontario Superior Court rulings affirming that people have a constitutional right to shelter themselves when adequate indoor options aren’t available.
Toronto’s shelter system remains extremely strained. As of Thursday night, more than 9,000 people were staying in shelters, and roughly 150 people were turned away each night due to lack of space.
Amendment Introduced to Prevent Legal Risks
Coun. Paula Fletcher (Toronto–Danforth) introduced the amendment that eventually passed, replacing Bradford’s strict 48-hour rule with the three-offer policy. The city will start by addressing the 18 encampments currently located within 50 metres of schools and childcare centres.
Funding Shortfall Looms Over Shelter System
The city’s shelter system may soon face further strain due to a potential federal funding cut for refugee shelter programs. Without continued federal support, Toronto could be left responsible for $107 million this year to support nearly 3,500 refugees currently housed in its shelters — a cost Mayor Olivia Chow has repeatedly argued should be covered by the federal government.