REACHING HOME · TORONTO
Reaching Home in Toronto
ALFDC is Toronto’s Indigenous Community Entity for Reaching Home. We direct federal funding to Indigenous-led housing and homelessness work across the city, and partner with the community to prevent and reduce homelessness.
How Reaching Home works in Toronto
Reaching Home is the Government of Canada’s community-based program to prevent and reduce homelessness. Communities run a Coordinated Access system and report on their outcomes each year.
ALFDC serves as the Indigenous Community Entity for Reaching Home in Toronto. This work addresses and reduces Indigenous homelessness through culturally appropriate, community-driven solutions.
As the Indigenous Community Entity, ALFDC administers federal funding under the Indigenous Homelessness stream, directing resources toward initiatives that support Indigenous individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
To ensure funding decisions reflect community needs and priorities, ALFDC works in close partnership with the Toronto Indigenous Community Advisory Board (TICAB), made up of Indigenous housing and homelessness-serving organizations.
The current Toronto Indigenous Community Plan runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2028. The 2019–2024 plan has been archived for reference.
Indigenous Mobile ID Clinic
Identification is often the first step back to income, housing, healthcare, and work. The Mobile ID Clinic comes to shelters and community sites in Toronto to help people get or replace the ID they need. It is low-barrier and culturally grounded.
Meeting in the Middle
A 2018 engagement strategy and action plan, co-created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council, setting out how the City and Indigenous organizations work together to address Indigenous homelessness.
How to connect
To speak to an Indigenous service provider in Toronto, please contact:
Email: mobileID2@alfdc.on.ca or mobileID@alfdc.on.ca
Phone: 613-921-5740
Projects
Native Women’s Resource Centre
This capital project aimed to protect the health and safety of clients who entered the centre by installing cameras and repairing perimeter fence/gate.
New Frontiers
The public washroom upgrade project, supported by the Aboriginal Labour Force Development Circle, aimed to enhance accessibility, safety, and functionality for community members. Improvements included flooring & ceramic tiling on the walls, energy- efficient lighting, eco-friendly water saving facilities, and upgrade ventilation. The renovations prioritize cleanliness and sustainability while ensuring a welcome space for all users.
Wigwamen
A sturdy and well-maintained fence around a playground is essential for ensuring the safety and security of children as they play. It serves as a protective barrier, preventing unauthorized access and keeping young children from wandering into potentially dangerous areas, such as streets or nearby construction zones. A strong fence also helps establish a clear boundary, creating a secure space where kids can explore and play freely without external disruptions. Wigwamen has successfully been able to do that with the help of Reaching Home Funding 2024-2025.
Wigwamen
The 525 Markham building has an outdoor playground that has been used frequently by children in the building. In addition, the playground area is a place where tenants socialize or simply enjoy the tranquility of the trees. Wigwamen hired a playground inspector to perform the required playground annual inspection, the playground failed to meet safety standards. Reaching home funding for this project assisted Wigwamen in upgrading the playground to the required safety standards.
Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes Inc.
Gabriel Dumont’s Carpet and Kitchen Renovations project provided their tenants with vital repairs to units that were in direr need from past flooding and water issues. Kitchens were updated allowing tenants to take pride in preparing nutritious meals for their families in a safe and clean environment. Damaged carpets were replaced with flooring to preserve the health of tenants and allow for a clean and comfortable home.
Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes Inc.
Gabriel Dumont's Sacred Gathering Space serves as the heart of a community housing 80 families, offering a sacred fire and intentional seating that fosters connection and creation. This space hosts ceremonies led by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Survivors, ensuring cultural practices continue in an urban setting.
Gabriel Dumont
Gabriel Dumont's Sacred Gathering Space serves as the heart of a community housing 80 families, offering a sacred fire and intentional seating that fosters connection and creation. This space hosts ceremonies led by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Survivors, ensuring cultural practices continue in an urban setting.
Native Child & Family Services
This project was created mid fiscal year as an emergency fix to address the water seeping into the basement at 179 Dowling Avenue. The project consisted of waterproofing the basement.
Gabriel Dumont
Reaching home funding for this project repaired 46 units balconies that were in hazardous conditions.
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge
Reaching home funding for this project supported the development of a self contained 2-bedroom garden suite on property of Thunder Woman Healing Lodge.
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge
This property has required extensive repair and improvement to prepare it for occupancy as a Healing Lodge. Renovations include asbestos remediation, installation of a new HVAC and life/safety systems, renovations of the kitchen and bathrooms and remodelling of the basement for programming.
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge
Reaching home funding has provided Thunder Woman Healing Lodge with the ability to renovate the exterior of this building. This property has required extensive repair and improvement to prepare it for occupancy as a Healing Lodge.
Native Men’s Residence
Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong (Place of Healthy Breathing) is a health clinic that was opened in late 2020. The clinic has proven to be very successful in delivering services to the Indigenous community in a culturally appropriate manner. Reaching home funding for this project went into the completion of a third-floor attic renovation to provide more space for the clinic to expand and enhance service delivery.
Native Men’s Residence
Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong (Place of Healthy Breathing) began as a critical response to the disparities affecting First Nation, Innuit, and Metis population during the Covid-19 pandemic. The clinic is a for-Indigenous, by-Indigenous Covid response that offers culturally safe supports to Indigenous peoples. Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong is now transforming to provide primary health care to First Nation, Innuit, and Metis people in Toronto. The clinic is seeing many clients with mobility issues, as the clinic grows it is imperative they ensure all floors of the building are accessible to all clients. Reaching home funding for this project has provided Native Men’s Residence with the ability to build an elevator to have all floors accessible.
Toronto Council Fire
The reaching home funding for these three projects gave Toronto Council Fire the ability to offer daily hot meals for individuals occupying residency in the parks.
Anduhyaun
Reaching home funding provided supports with the completion of the VAW shelter project, as well as helping with the transition of residence over to the new building. The completion if the VAW shelter will ensure women and their families have a safe and accommodating place where they can utilize supports and services that prioritize their well-being.
Toronto Aboriginal Social Services Council
This project provided TASSC and its members with a new clean, safe and dedicated space to be used for operations, meetings, gathering, ceremony, events, TASSC members and community activities.