What to know
- Tiny Tiny Homes and ReedintheStreet have launched a street outreach hub at Dundas and Sherbourne, using a repurposed tiny home to provide support to Toronto’s unhoused population.
- The hub will distribute essentials like sleeping bags, jackets, socks, underwear, food, and water, especially as winter sets in.
- A fundraiser has been launched to keep the hub running, with a goal of $8,000, and the campaign had already raised $7,000 as of the announcement.
- The initiative responds to Toronto’s worsening homelessness crisis, targeting one of the city’s most vulnerable areas and offering immediate assistance while advocating for more long-term solutions.
Non-profit organization Tiny Tiny Homes and ReedintheStreet are joining forces to launch a new street outreach hub, providing much-needed support and resources directly to Toronto’s unhoused community.
The initiative was announced on Dec. 18, with the hub set up at the corner of Dundas and Sherbourne.
It will operate out of a tiny home, typically used to house people experiencing homelessness. Ryan Donais, founder of Tiny Tiny Homes, told Now Toronto that he had an extra Tiny home he wasn’t sure how to use, until he and ReedintheStreet decided to turn it into a resource hub.
In addition to the hub, the two have launched a fundraiser to keep it running and provide additional supplies. The campaign set a goal of $8,000 and had raised $7,000 as of publication.
Those who are unable to make a financial donation can also donate items to the hub. Donais says essential items such as sleeping bags, jackets, socks, underwear, water, food, and other nonperishable items will be distributed to the city’s most vulnerable residents.
The location was chosen because it is in an area where homelessness is growing, according to Donais.
“It’s probably the worst corner in the city for homelessness. So I’d say there’s definitely a need for more outreach there,” he explained.
With winter weather setting in, Donais says the need is especially urgent.
“There are a lot of people walking around with no shoes in the wintertime, which is incredible. We’re hoping to provide warm clothes, jackets, and other essentials to help people get through the season,” he added.
Reed, who already spends much of his time giving out essentials from his car and apartment, said the hub extends that work, and hopes to see it grow someday.
“The goal is that this is kind of like a starting point. Eventually, I want to expand to a building with showers, barbers, and other services. People could come, get a new outfit, a haircut, a shower, and leave feeling better,” he said.
Donais says the outreach comes at a time when the city’s homelessness crisis is worsening.
“We have a very large budget to deal with homelessness, and they’re not dealing with homelessness. They need to try different solutions because what they’re doing now is not working,” he said.
Reed added that he has also seen the crisis worsen over the years.
“In my opinion, it’s definitely worse than I remember growing up in Toronto. Walking around today, I saw so many people in doorways and on the streets… It’s definitely getting worse,” he said.
Tiny Tiny Homes was created in 2024 as a temporary solution to homelessness, though it faced pushback when some homes were placed in parks. The organization recently partnered with The Seeds of Hope Foundation to place four Tiny Homes on its Leslieville property.
“It’s important that we get people who are unhoused into homes immediately. We need to do better as a society and take care of all our vulnerable people outside,” Donais said.
Reed is also encouraging people to help however they can.
“Help on your own and on your own time. It’s not that hard to just go out and actually give out a few jackets,” he said.
