Housing: The Foundation of Mental Health by Diya Gupta

The connection between housing and mental health is undeniable: without a safe and stable place to live, it’s nearly impossible to heal, rebuild, or thrive.

Al Wiebe’s journey illustrates this vividly. After losing his job in advertising, he spiraled into homelessness, spending over two years living in his car. With no stability, his life was consumed by survival. He describes this period as one where balance, friendships, and family ties disappeared, leaving him without purpose.

Everything shifted when he was placed in housing. That stability opened the door to proper medical care, community support, and the chance to rediscover his self-worth. From there, he not only regained his footing but began helping others by volunteering, advocating for those experiencing homelessness, and raising awareness about the critical link between housing and mental health.

Wiebe’s experience speaks to a larger truth: housing is not a reward for stability, but the first step toward it. Without shelter, people cannot access consistent medical care, manage mental illness, or pursue recovery. The Housing First model, which prioritizes permanent housing alongside wraparound supports, has proven effective in reducing hospital visits, lowering policing costs, and—most importantly—restoring dignity.

Al Wiebe’s story is ultimately one of resilience and hope. With housing as his foundation, he found recovery, purpose, and the ability to lift others up. His message is clear: if we want healthier communities, we must start by ensuring everyone has a place to call home.

For more information on his story, visit: https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/catalyst/the-connection-between-housing-and-mental-health/

Tiny Homes Offer Shelter, But City Pushback Threatens Stability By Diya Gupta

Toronto’s growing homelessness crisis has prompted citizens like Ryan Donais, founder of Tiny Tiny Homes, to take matters into their own hands. Donais, a construction worker, began building portable emergency shelters last year in response to the increase in encampments. Each fibreglass unit includes a bed, a small kitchen, solar-powered lighting, and heating — providing crucial refuge from the cold for people like Samu Nauel, a refugee who received his tiny home key the same day his asylum application was approved.

Despite their benefits, the City of Toronto has ordered the removal of five such tiny shelters currently stationed in St. James Park, citing safety concerns and interference with public use of city property. While the city is exploring the feasibility of micro shelters in future housing strategies, they are not currently permitted on public land.

Advocates warn this action could push vulnerable individuals back into tents or onto unsafe streets. Over 22,000 people have signed a petition urging the city to find alternative locations for the shelters, emphasizing that displacing these structures does not solve homelessness.

Supporters, including outreach worker Diana Chan McNally and Engage and Change founder Jody Steinhauer, stress that tiny homes are low-cost, quick-to-deploy interim solutions in a system where shelters are often full and unsafe. They call for a designated space — a “trailer park” model with wraparound services — to support recovery, stability, and dignity for unhoused people.

As of now, the shelters remain in the park, adorned with red and purple heart stickers — a symbol of hope amidst bureaucratic uncertainty.

For more information, visit: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/02/14/city-of-toronto-asks-builder-of-tiny-homeless-shelters-to-remove-them-from-park/

Expanding Supportive Housing Beyond Walls: UHN’s Dunn House Model Grows By Diya Gupta

The University Health Network (UHN) has announced a $2-million expansion of its social medicine program aimed at helping unhoused individuals who frequently visit emergency rooms. This builds on the success of Dunn House, a Parkdale-based supportive housing site that has provided health care, social services, and stable housing to 51 people with complex needs.

Unlike traditional models that rely on constructing new housing, this expansion brings portable supports — such as psychiatric care, nursing, and personal support services — directly into existing housing across Toronto. The model skips the time-consuming construction process and accelerates aid delivery to people in urgent need, particularly older adults.

The expansion, in partnership with LOFT Community Services, will support up to 100 individuals transitioning out of shelters, encampments, or hospitals into long-term housing. These individuals are selected based on city-held data and medical/social complexity, with a focus on frequent ER users.

This shift in strategy comes at a time of crisis: over 28,000 people remain on Toronto’s supportive housing waitlist, and the median age of death for unhoused individuals remains tragically low — 36 for women and 50 for men, as of 2024.

The approach will also undergo academic evaluation through a study led by Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos at CAMH, ensuring data-backed advocacy for long-term scalability.

For more information about UHN’s supportive housing initiatives, visit: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/affordable-housing-developments/map-of-affordable-housing-locations/90-dunn-ave/