TCHC staff recognized by FOCUS Toronto

Building strong, resilient communities starts with collaboration. At Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), our staff work with partners across the city to support our tenants. One of the ways this comes to life is through FOCUS Toronto.

FOCUS Toronto is a collaborative, risk-driven approach to community safety and wellbeing. It is co-led by the City of Toronto, United Way Greater Toronto, and Toronto Police Service.  

"FOCUS Toronto contributes to achieving the goals and priority actions under SafeTO: Toronto’s 10-Year Community Safety & Well-Being Plan," shared the City of Toronto. "Adopted by Toronto City Council in 2021 and key institutional partners, such as the Toronto Police Service and TCHC, SafeTO helps reduce vulnerability and risks to violence in Toronto. FOCUS Toronto demonstrates how taking a trauma-informed and collaborative risk-driven approach to connect people to the right supports in an often disjointed service system can make a difference."

TCHC’s Community Services Coordinators (CSCs) act as Tenant Access and Support representatives on FOCUS Toronto committees. They connect people to the right supports when it is needed the most. It could be for mental health care, crisis de-escalation, family services, and more. Referrals mean that vulnerable individuals, families, or places receive a targeted, wraparound approach. It often comes when people are experiencing high levels of risk. Support can be life changing.

Kamal Singh, one of TCHC’s CSCs, shared why the partnership with FOCUS Toronto is a natural fit. “Tenancy management at TCHC supports successful tenancies for residents,” Kamal says. “Using an equity, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed lens, we act as navigators. We link tenants to supports like Legal Aid, Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works, healthcare, and child welfare.” Our goals align with FOCUS Toronto's goals, says Kamal. "We aim for stability and wellbeing, humanizing the process through a person-centered approach.”

Earlier this year, FOCUS Toronto recognized our CSCs at their annual conference. The TCHC team received the Partner Excellence Award for the most referrals. Ultimately, the award represents 91 moments where someone got the help they needed, before their situation worsened. “Behind each number is a household who avoided eviction, secured income or healthcare, and gained the stability to remain housed,” says Kamal.

Affordable housing is a platform for wellbeing. When tenants have access to timely supports, it strengthens housing stability. When housing is stable, wellbeing follows.

"The impact stories we receive show that FOCUS Toronto's work improves safety and wellbeing,” explains Evon Smith, Senior Manager of FOCUS Toronto and Regional Situational Tables. “This comes from getting connected to services, but also because getting connected with agencies instills a sense of empowerment and hope with their care." These agencies also provide advocacy and ongoing follow-up.

“Our partnership with TCHC is absolutely needed for helping the most vulnerable Torontonians,” says Evon. "Since 2013, 38 per cent of all situations involved TCHC staff and residents. To put that into perspective, that's 5,958 people."

Community Partnerships and Engagement Unit for Toronto Police Services, and member of the FOCUS Toronto Management Team, Brian Smith agreed. “We see immense opportunities through the FOCUS Tables to help TCHC staff in their ongoing work supporting residents experiencing crisis, harms, violence, and victimization.”

This week is Toronto Public Service Week, and there's no better time to recognize the hard work of TCHC staff. Thank you to our team and to FOCUS Toronto partners across the city for making sure no one falls through the cracks.