Toronto's St. Felix Centre opens housing for homeless women

A Toronto charity will open a new affordable housing project for homeless women and children. The St. Felix Centre plans to launch Hope House in May 2025. This building will have 31 units and offer rent-geared-to-income housing. The project costs about $20 million and is funded by all three levels of government. Tarrah Seymour, an assistant manager at St. Felix, expressed excitement about the potential impact on families. "It's going to give them the hope that they need," she said. The apartments will provide long-term housing with support staff available around the clock. Services like educational assistance and psychiatric care will also be offered. Toronto is facing a significant homelessness crisis, with around 12,000 individuals in the shelter system. A large portion of this group consists of women. Advocates point out that violence and family issues are major causes of homelessness for women and girls. Brian Harris, the executive director of St. Felix Centre, noted that having stable housing can help mothers reunite with their children who may have been separated due to homelessness. He believes that projects like Hope House can be life-saving. In the first half of 2024, 135 homeless deaths were reported in Toronto, with many women among them. The city aims to approve at least 10,000 new affordable rental homes for women and gender-diverse individuals by 2030. However, advocates stress that many women remain hidden in homelessness, facing domestic abuse and unsafe living conditions. They argue more resources and support are needed to help those in precarious situations.