City of Toronto to place injection site beside a senior’s home, close to several schools
https://tnc.news/2024/02/21/toronto-injection-site-beside-seniors-home-schools1/
Members of Toronto’s Willowdale neighbourhood have been voicing their concerns after the city approved a drug injection site in the heart of their community.
Community members are contesting a municipal housing initiative at 175 Cummer Ave that would see a drug injection facility for Toronto’s homeless population installed right next to a senior’s home and near several schools.
This development is part of Toronto’s Modular Housing Initiative – approved by City Council as part of the city’s broader HousingTO 2020-2030 plan.
The initiative is meant to provide “deeply affordable” housing to Toronto’s homeless residents, providing them with services that the city claims will prevent its tenants from ending up back on the streets. The initiative has already built four of these modular buildings across the city.
The 3-storey, 64 unit apartment will provide its tenants with a drug injection site, “personal recovery” from substance use and mental health challenges, help with storage of medication, and eviction prevention, among other services.
“The facility is expected to have special services for its tenants, including assistance with substance use, fetal alcohol supports, withdrawal services, and harm reduction (e.g. safe injection / inhalation, needle supplies, naloxone distribution),” says the Bayview Cummer Neighbourhood Association.
Willowdale’s residents have expressed concern with the housing initiative and the adverse effects the apartment’s residents would have on the neighbouring senior’s home, community safety, and property values. Continue…