A Toronto hospital network is set to greatly expand a permanent housing program designed for people experiencing homelessness who frequently use hospital emergency departments. Sources report the program, based at Dunn House, supports residents with stable housing while linking them to health and social services.
The expansion is described as building on early results from the program’s current operation, which has accommodated 51 residents. Multiple outlets say the model will scale up substantially, with plans to grow the number of residents to about 300. The program is presented as both a humanitarian alternative to repeatedly cycling through emergency care and a cost-effective approach for the health system.
While outlets focus on different aspects, they broadly align on the same initiative, location, and goal: reducing avoidable emergency department visits by addressing housing needs for high-usage patients. One outlet highlights the perspective of Dr. Andrew Boozary, who links the approach to humane care and financial efficiency, while another emphasizes early uptake and the scale of the planned expansion.
