[Bordercollie]

I do not doubt that having more housing (with support services) would reduce homelessness but from my experience there are still LOTS of homeless folk in Europe (though countries differ greatly there too. It was almost certainly not reduced to 1% of the formerly homeless population and I do not know how much it reduced homelessness itself as a percentage of the whole population but doubt it used to be 100 times worse. Where did your 1% figure come from, which country does it refer to, and 1% of what?

How did Denmark solve homelessness?
It is clear that providing housing first to the homeless individual is a strategy that is implemented in many different areas of the social services process in Denmark, and has also been successful in lowering the rates of homelessness to the small number of 0.1 percent.

Now that is one country but it says a lot.

 

[turbanplanner]

How did Denmark solve homelessness?
It is clear that providing housing first to the homeless individual is a strategy that is implemented in many different areas of the social services process in Denmark, and has also been successful in lowering the rates of homelessness to the small number of 0.1 percent.

Now that is one country but it says a lot.

I’m speaking out of my ass here, but I feel like in a lot of cases that would lead to ruined housing? The other problem also is you don’t really want to have ghettos. That’s why Toronto community housing is pushed for mixed income develop developments etc

 

[Bordercollie]

I’m speaking out of my ass here, but I feel like in a lot of cases that would lead to ruined housing? The other problem also is you don’t really want to have ghettos. That’s why Toronto community housing is pushed for mixed income develop developments etc

There needs to be a multi step approach. But this "you have to be clean to get housing" Doesn't work because you need an address to get a job, you need a place to sleep, otherwise how can you get clean?

 

[txlseries4]

How did Denmark solve homelessness?
It is clear that providing housing first to the homeless individual is a strategy that is implemented in many different areas of the social services process in Denmark, and has also been successful in lowering the rates of homelessness to the small number of 0.1 percent.

Now that is one country but it says a lot.

When I hit reply to respond I really thought this as well, but thinking about it and looking more up, I'm not so sure. They certainly have a model we should follow, but I don't think it's true that they solved it, and it is clear it is something that disproportionately affects non-Danes people -- between 2012-2022 only 6% of those prosecuted for begging in public were Danish nationality [source]. I don't know how much we can take from their scenario and apply it here because some of their variables are much different.

I've been to Copenhagen twice during the winter, most recently in 2022, and it was shocking to not see (or notice) homeless people -- in or outside the city centre, on transit, or otherwise. I spent just over a week there that trip and only saw one person panhandling. The nordic countries do spend a lot on their social programs and their taxes reflect it. The safety net to catch people before they hit the street is robust. From this wikipedia article on homeless population, Canada's rate (2023) of homeless people is 29.02 per 10,000 compared to 9.8 per 10,000 in Denmark (2022). From the 2024 Street Needs Assessment, Toronto's rate is 54 per 10k (rate is 49 sheltered, 6 unsheltered). I couldn't find a rate specific to Cph. This article notes "As of 2024, Denmark counted 5,989 homeless people. According to Emhjellen, the country only has about 3,000 emergency shelter beds."

There was legislation passed in 2017 I learned about while writing this found this 2023 article from the European Journal of Homelessness, that flies in the face of my understanding of how homelessness has been approached in Denmark. I don't want to expand on it too much and take things too off-topic, but that article is illuminating to even just skim through. That 2017 law made begging illegal and is more strictly enforced in particular locations -- like on transit, and public encampments were made illegal (tent, tarp, bonfire), however some advocacy reporting indicates the encampment law has not been enforced after 202 when homeless became exacerbated just about everywhere; 2017-2019 there were 550 instances of police charging someone, and only 5 in 2020-2021. Earlier this year the city partially lifted the ban, permitting people to sleep in parks, but still prohibiting it in cemeteries and playgrounds.

Seems clear that just like in Toronto, the issue is complex and worsened significantly because of the pandemic. I'm certain there's details and nuance I've missed.

 

[Undead]

Getting real OT folks

 

[Bordercollie]

When I hit reply to respond I really thought this as well, but thinking about it and looking more up, I'm not so sure. They certainly have a model we should follow, but I don't think it's true that they solved it, and it is clear it is something that disproportionately affects non-Danes people -- between 2012-2022 only 6% of those prosecuted for begging in public were Danish nationality [source]. I don't know how much we can take from their scenario and apply it here because some of their variables are much different.

I've been to Copenhagen twice during the winter, most recently in 2022, and it was shocking to not see (or notice) homeless people -- in or outside the city centre, on transit, or otherwise. I spent just over a week there that trip and only saw one person panhandling. The nordic countries do spend a lot on their social programs and their taxes reflect it. The safety net to catch people before they hit the street is robust. From this wikipedia article on homeless population, Canada's rate (2023) of homeless people is 29.02 per 10,000 compared to 9.8 per 10,000 in Denmark (2022). From the 2024 Street Needs Assessment, Toronto's rate is 54 per 10k (rate is 49 sheltered, 6 unsheltered). I couldn't find a rate specific to Cph. This article notes "As of 2024, Denmark counted 5,989 homeless people. According to Emhjellen, the country only has about 3,000 emergency shelter beds."

There was legislation passed in 2017 I learned about while writing this found this 2023 article from the European Journal of Homelessness, that flies in the face of my understanding of how homelessness has been approached in Denmark. I don't want to expand on it too much and take things too off-topic, but that article is illuminating to even just skim through. That 2017 law made begging illegal and is more strictly enforced in particular locations -- like on transit, and public encampments were made illegal (tent, tarp, bonfire), however some advocacy reporting indicates the encampment law has not been enforced after 202 when homeless became exacerbated just about everywhere; 2017-2019 there were 550 instances of police charging someone, and only 5 in 2020-2021. Earlier this year the city partially lifted the ban, permitting people to sleep in parks, but still prohibiting it in cemeteries and playgrounds.

Seems clear that just like in Toronto, the issue is complex and worsened significantly because of the pandemic. I'm certain there's details and nuance I've missed.

The deployment of social or crisis workers on the subway is a good start. Also having police patrol the U portion of line one is also good.

But the core issue is that these people who use the TTC for shelter on cold days have social issues, mental issues, addiction issues and homelessness. So unless you can start to tackle some of these issues, kicking them off the TTC and leaving them on the street is only moving the problem somewhere else.

And using buses for homeless to sleep on cold nights was a good intended start but didn't address the other issues.

 

[turbanplanner]

There needs to be a multi step approach. But this "you have to be clean to get housing" Doesn't work because you need an address to get a job, you need a place to sleep, otherwise how can you get clean?

What about people who can’t get clean? I’m not saying this is many of the folks but even one person causing problems will be paraded around by sun media

 

[DSCToronto]

The deployment of social or crisis workers on the subway is a good start. Also having police patrol the U portion of line one is also good.

But the core issue is that these people who use the TTC for shelter on cold days have social issues, mental issues, addiction issues and homelessness. So unless you can start to tackle some of these issues, kicking them off the TTC and leaving them on the street is only moving the problem somewhere else.

And using buses for homeless to sleep on cold nights was a good intended start but didn't address the other issues.

I doubt anyone can disagree with this.

 

[APTA-2048]

I doubt anyone can disagree with this.

You would think so. But my experience has been most people are all too happy to put mentally ill people in jail. Or if I’m being generous, jail like conditions. Mental health, addiction, poverty are things most people don’t actually want to solve. They just want to stop seeing it.

 

[Bordercollie]

You would think so. But my experience has been most people are all too happy to put mentally ill people in jail. Or if I’m being generous, jail like conditions. Mental health, addiction, poverty are things most people don’t actually want to solve. They just want to stop seeing it.

I'm not sure if there is one answer or one solution to these problems. But cuts to social programs and mental health programs won't help anyone.

We need to help stop the core issues like poverty from happening in the first place.

But the cost of living and low wages makes it hard. Possibility a universal income system would help top you off. It would allow people to spend it on essentials such as food and rent.

But considering you need to make $44/hr to survive in Toronto that's part of the problem, and even if you do make that you are barely getting bye.

So imagine you only make $30/hr? That's considered poverty even though thats a good job. So working two shifts means parents are not home to spend time with their kids leaving them to join gangs and get into trouble.

Better social programs to help kids occupied with be sports and activities would prevent them from joining gangs and such.

 

[evandyk]

Getting real OT folks

Unfortunately, the housing crisis is definitely not off topic when discussing the TTC. It becomes immediately apparent as soon as the weather gets colder and people who have been living/sleeping outside are looking for warm places to take refuge. We don't provide housing or safe shelters, so the TTC is the fallback.

 

[evandyk]

So imagine you only make $30/hr? That's considered poverty even though thats a good job. So working two shifts means parents are not home to spend time with their kids leaving them to join gangs and get into trouble.

The Ontario Living Wage Network says the living wage in Toronto is $27.20. So $30 would generally be considered somewhat above "poverty".

Data is collected for the costs of a basket of goods and services for three types of households: two parents aged 35 and two children aged 7 and 3, a single parent with a child age 7, and a single adult.

The living wage rate is the before-tax income that each adult would need to earn to cover the expenses included in the basket for their family type. The calculation includes government transfers the family may receive (like the Canada Child Benefit, the Ontario CARE benefit) and the payroll and income taxes the adults may pay.

 

[Bordercollie]

The Ontario Living Wage Network says the living wage in Toronto is $27.20. So $30 would generally be considered somewhat above "poverty".

"Somewhat" lol

 

[Bordercollie]

Source: CityNews Toronto https://share.google/zNxm8yxV3Y29Vslvj

Asbestos confirmed

 

[drum118]

November 27, 2025

OVIN and the TTC to Pilot New Made-in-Ontario Transit Technologies

The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) is partnering with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to pilot innovative transit solutions that could improve safety, reliability, and customer experience. As part of the latest expansion of the OVIN Technology Pilot Zones, Ontario companies will have the opportunity to pilot their technologies directly within the TTC network.

This partnership unlocks new opportunities for southern Ontario companies to integrate technologies in real-world transit environments, including buses, stations, and supporting infrastructure. Companies will receive up to $100,000 to pilot a series of use cases that showcase how Ontario-made technologies can address critical urban mobility challenges.

A part of the OVIN Technology Pilot Zones program, which was launched in February 2024 with an $8-million investment from the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, this expansion builds on a shared commitment to accelerate the commercialization of automotive and mobility technologies in southern Ontario.

“By investing in real-world testing environments like the OVIN Technology Pilot Zones, our government is helping Ontario companies turn bold ideas into market-ready solutions,\" said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). \"This partnership with the TTC is an example of how the Government of Canada is supporting the acceleration of innovation in urban mobility, contributing to stronger domestic supply chains and helping create the conditions to enable our businesses to demonstrate their innovative technologies and grow globally.”

By anchoring these pilots within Canada’s largest transit system, the OVIN Technology Pilot Zones will play a key role in the TTC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen operations and improve the rider experience. These pilots will also connect the TTC with local, homegrown Ontario companies with made-in-Ontario solutions, creating opportunities for these companies to bring their technologies to market, enter domestic supply chains in Ontario and Canada, and provide them with a leg up as they look to scale into global markets.

“OVIN is giving Ontario businesses the tools they need to scale, compete, and win in the global mobility market,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Partnering with the TTC, these companies can test their technologies in real-world transit environments and connect with new customers. Our government is supporting entrepreneurs as they solve key transportation challenges and drive economic growth.”

“Ontario companies are taking on the most pressing transportation challenges in Canada’s largest city to eliminate gridlock and get our economy moving,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “By refining and integrating advanced technologies into TTC operations, the OVIN Technology Pilot Zones aim to enhance public transit safety, efficiency, and accessibility for millions of daily commuters, while building a launchpad for our local companies to enter into domestic supply chains and global markets.”

“The City of Toronto is the largest technology hub in Canada, and one of the largest worldwide. Creating another OVIN Technology Pilot Zone in Toronto is yet another way we can ensure this is a city where innovation thrives,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

Since its inception, OVIN Technology Pilot Zones has supplied real-world scenarios that have provided a launch pad for over 40 SMEs as they pilot and commercialize more than 40 new technologies, predominantly within the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV), connected and automated vehicle (CAV), and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) areas. With the addition of TTC to a growing list of OVIN Technology Pilot Zone partners, such as the City of Toronto and Federal Bridge Corporation’s Blue Water Bridge, OVIN is providing local, homegrown companies with the opportunity to enhance their technologies before entering the market, while showcasing to potential customers their solutions, both domestically and internationally.

“Through OVIN, we’re driving innovation that transforms how people move, connect, and live,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “This partnership with the TTC enables Ontario companies the opportunity to pilot their technologies in one of the most complex transit systems in North America.”