Recovery site for homeless COVID-19 patients offers dignity and a pathway to housing

Frontline services | Housing and homelessness | Policy leadership

The recovery site for COVID-positive homeless people is a unique collaboration between many health partners, government, addiction recovery supports, community & neighbourhood groups and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontier Canada providing expertise on project co-ordination and logistics. Among the primary goals of the recovery site is treating homeless patients with dignity in a clinical setting and ensuring they have a home to go to afterward — not a return to homelessness.

City of Victoria acquires 115 motel rooms to house homeless population

Housing and homelessness | Policy leadership

These rooms are meant for people who have not displayed any symptoms of COVID-19, and one person will occupy each room. The rooms will be available to vulnerable people living outside in order to make sure they can meet physical distancing protocols put in place by the provincial health officer. The new locations will be administered by BC Housing and social service providers will be identifying people in the community who would be suitable to move in. Temporary outdoor homeless shelters at Royal Athletic Park and Topaz Park are currently being set up as temporary stopgap measures before authorities are able to find suitable indoor shelter spaces.

Toronto charity helps health-care workers find temporary accommodation during COVID-19 crisis

Frontline services | Housing and homelessness | Local businesses | Social isolation

StayWell, a Toronto-based charity, has since last year helped patients who travel to Toronto for medical treatments find affordable places to stay. The charity partners with Sky View Suites to make hundreds of fully furnished units available for short-term rentals at a reduced price. With COVID-19 hitting all parts of the city and the province, the charity decided to expand this service to health-care providers.

University of Ottawa building will house vulnerable families during the COVID-19

Housing and homelessness | Policy leadership | Public health

Around 65 people will move into the building located at 585 King Edward Ave. on Monday after a request was made by the City of Ottawa. Some of these new residents may have been exposed to people who carry the coronavirus, while others are exhibiting symptoms of the illness, hence the need to quickly house them so that they can self-isolate.

City of Toronto acquires hotels, rental buildings for homeless in response to coronavirus

Frontline services | Housing and homelessness | Policy leadership | Public health

Toronto Councillor Joe Cressy said five hotels have been acquired with another five in the process of being secured. Two vacant rental buildings are also in the process of being acquired and 50 permanent housing units have been identified. He added that 19 households have secured permanent housing. The latest acquisitions are in addition to the nine existing sites the city has already opened to facilitate social distancing within the shelter system. Cressy added that the city has provided funding to five community partners that run overnight programs to stay open all day to provide daytime spaces for those experiencing homelessness. Two sites are now open and three others will open shortly.

Volunteers help people in Toronto by bike

Fundraising and volunteering | Mobility and transportation | Social isolation

The Toronto Bike Brigade calls for volunteer bicycle riders in Toronto to help deliver goods to people unable to leave their homes

Youthful Cities launches The COVID-19 Canadian Urgent Isolation Campaign Playbook

Children | Mental health

Nonprofit Youthful Cities has launched a campaign to support youth as they self-isolate.

Quarantunes: Free concerts to watch at home during COVID-19

Arts and Culture

Quarantunes: Free Concerts to Watch at Home During COVID-19 Distancing, Canadian and other artists

Calgary grocery store prepares care package to those quarantined

Food | Local businesses

Calgary Co-op chain is offering a Calgary Co-op Care Package containing food essentials, free of charge, to anyone required to be quarantined as directed by a public health agency. These Calgary Co-op Care Packages will contain non-perishable food items such as canned meat, pasta

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