In June 2022, the City of Hamilton Housing Services Division selected the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton to conduct a post-pandemic review of the size of the emergency shelter system. The scope directed the SPRC to consult service providers, review shelter data, and make recommendations for changes to the emergency shelter system needed in the short term, including what the “optimal size” of the shelter system should be to meet current needs.

The report was made public in August 2023 and contains recommendations in these areas:

• Prioritize the Indigenous Community
• Prioritize safe and deeply affordable housing with supports and transitional housing
• Prioritize staff recruitment and retention
• Emergency shelter bed types and numbers (Indigenous, Women, Families, Youth, Men)
• Diversion

To read the full report, click on the link below

Hamilton Post-Pandemic Emergency Shelter Size Review: Key Findings