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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

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Michael Shapcott

Canadians agree in new survey: It’s more important than ever to assist poor, homeless

Three million Canadians – that’s about one-in-nine – have been touched by homelessness, according to a powerful new report from the Salvation Army released today: Poverty Shouldn’t Be A Life Sentence. The Salvation Army, the largest provider of shelters and services for people who are homeless, helped one million people in 2009; and reports that more people are staying for longer periods of time at their shelters. “Our study found that the need to assist the poor and homeless is more important now than ever before,” said Commissioner William W. Francis, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “The public understands that there are numerous factors which lead to life on the streets, and the public believes that more can be done for the poor and homeless.”

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.