Many people living with mental health and addictions issues are caught in a cycle of homelessness, police encounters, court hearings, hospital stays, and incarceration. This cycle results in significant public costs for jails, policing, hospital use, shelters, and other services. A new approach to supportive housing will reduce many of these costs, and will also lower rates of homelessness, justice involvement, and mitigate the negative impacts of mental health issues and addictions on people’s lives.
This report is a needs assessment, along with recommendations for action in Toronto. It draws from expert interviews, service user and service provider focus groups, analyses of waitlist and clinical data, a review of the research literature, and contributions from an advisory group.