WHAT ARE THE TORONTO SHELTER STANDARDS?

The Toronto Shelter Standards (TSS)  provides City of Toronto-funded shelter providers and clients with a clear set of expectations, guidelines and minimum requirements for the provision of shelter services in Toronto. All emergency and transitional shelters funded or directly operated by the City of Toronto are required to adhere to the TSS. 

View the Toronto Shelter Standards document here: TSS | PDF

To access additional implementation resources please click here

SSHA DIRECTIVES

Please click on the titles below for the following Toronto Shelter Directives. These directives are issued when specific actions are required by shelter and respite site providers under the authority of the Operating Agreement, Shelter or 24-Hour Respite Site Standards and any other applicable law.

Directives are also used to provide clarification regarding a particular shelter or respite site standard, or to issue an interim standard before it is formally consolidated into the Shelter or 24-Hour Respite Site Standards document.

COVID-19 & VACCINES

2023

• Update to directive 2020-02 on masking requirements. (UPDATED March 6, 2023).

• Update to directive 2020-01 on physical distancing. (UPDATED March 6, 2023).

2021

• Directive on mandatory masks for clients and required personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff. (UPDATED: December 2021)

• Directive on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination for Staff of City Funded Shelter, 24-hour Respite and 24-hour Women's Drop In providers

• Directive on Mandatory Masks for Clients and Required PPE for All Staff (February 2021)

2020

• COVID-19 Response: Update to TSS Section 9.3.1 and the 24-Hour Respite Site Standards Section 7.3.1 (May 2020)

HARM REDUCTION

• Directive to Toronto Shelter Standards and 24-Hour Respite Standards on Harm Reduction (June 2021)

OTHER

• Directive Update to 9.1.2 (a) and 9.1.2 (c) in TSS on Menstrual Products (November 2019)

• Directive on Shelter Clients on Housing Access Waitlist (October 2019)