Thousands of refugee claimants are in homeless shelters across Toronto, as stays grow longer amid a housing affordability crisis and a lack of federal support for an increasing number of asylum seekers.
According to city data, refugees and asylum seekers accounted for 30 per cent of total occupancy in the municipal shelter system as of March, with average stays reaching four to six months. The pressure on the shelter system has prompted the city’s government to press Ottawa for more funding. And while support for 2023 is included in the recent federal budget, it is not a permanent commitment – as has long been called for.
