Social Planning Toronto
@planningtoronto.bsky.social
For 65 years, we’ve been a vital part of making Toronto better for all by linking research with community action.
Social Planning Toronto will be hosting two virtual workshops this month to provide individuals, community leaders, local groups, and service providers with tools and tips to engage in productive conversations around homelessness. Learn more and register: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/events
Events
See all upcoming events hosted by Social Planning Toronto.
www.socialplanningtoronto.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Social Planning Toronto will be hosting two virtual workshops this month to provide individuals, community leaders, local groups, and service providers with tools and tips to engage in productive conversations around homelessness. Learn more and register: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/events
Last year, food bank visits in Toronto reached an all-time high of 4.1 million. 88% of survey respondents live in unaffordable housing. Nearly half (46%) of survey respondents reported that at least one person in their household is employed.
Read more:
www.dailybread.ca/research-and...
Read more:
www.dailybread.ca/research-and...
Who’s Hungry Report
Who’s Hungry 2025 In partnership, Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank have released Who’s Hungry 2025 – an annual profile of poverty and food insecurity in the City of Toronto. S...
www.dailybread.ca
October 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Last year, food bank visits in Toronto reached an all-time high of 4.1 million. 88% of survey respondents live in unaffordable housing. Nearly half (46%) of survey respondents reported that at least one person in their household is employed.
Read more:
www.dailybread.ca/research-and...
Read more:
www.dailybread.ca/research-and...
SPT is one of many non-profits and charities to sign onto an open letter calling on funders to commit to and demonstrate trust-based philanthropic funding practices: www.tamarackcommunity.ca/articles/ope...
Open Letter from Canada’s Nonprofits and Charities to Corporate and Philanthropic Funders
In this uncertain yet critical moment, trust-based philanthropy has the power to drive transformational change in communities.
www.tamarackcommunity.ca
October 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
SPT is one of many non-profits and charities to sign onto an open letter calling on funders to commit to and demonstrate trust-based philanthropic funding practices: www.tamarackcommunity.ca/articles/ope...
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
New proposed provincial legislation would strip away key tenant protections, fast-track evictions, and open the door to ending rent control as we know it in Ontario.
Tell Queen's Park: Don't end rent control
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Tell Queen's Park: Don't end rent control
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
URGENT Message to Doug Ford: Don’t End Rent Control! - ACORN Canada
acorncanada.org
October 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
New proposed provincial legislation would strip away key tenant protections, fast-track evictions, and open the door to ending rent control as we know it in Ontario.
Tell Queen's Park: Don't end rent control
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Tell Queen's Park: Don't end rent control
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
Bill 60 is outrageous in a province already inundated with mass homelessness.
It further limits justice for tenants at the LTB, expedites evictions, and further incentivizes Landlord's Own Use evictions by slashing compensation to tenants.
Unconscionable!
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...
It further limits justice for tenants at the LTB, expedites evictions, and further incentivizes Landlord's Own Use evictions by slashing compensation to tenants.
Unconscionable!
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...
October 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Bill 60 is outrageous in a province already inundated with mass homelessness.
It further limits justice for tenants at the LTB, expedites evictions, and further incentivizes Landlord's Own Use evictions by slashing compensation to tenants.
Unconscionable!
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...
It further limits justice for tenants at the LTB, expedites evictions, and further incentivizes Landlord's Own Use evictions by slashing compensation to tenants.
Unconscionable!
news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
In particular, they want leases to no longer necessarily remain in effect indefinitely, so that landlords have more options for creating tenant turnover.
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
October 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In particular, they want leases to no longer necessarily remain in effect indefinitely, so that landlords have more options for creating tenant turnover.
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
Current situation in left-hand column, proposal on the right:
The cost of inaction on poverty far outweighs any investment required to address it. Every dollar spent on social programs, income supports, and targeted benefits is dwarfed by the long-term consequences of poverty. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Canada set a poverty reduction goal. We’re falling behind. - CCPA
Canada vowed to end poverty by 2030, yet progress has stalled. The government can’t wait any longer to deliver real solutions.
www.policyalternatives.ca
October 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The cost of inaction on poverty far outweighs any investment required to address it. Every dollar spent on social programs, income supports, and targeted benefits is dwarfed by the long-term consequences of poverty. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Freeze the rent! Raise the rates!
Join SPT and community partners this Thursday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen's Park as we demand the province enact a rent freeze and raise the rates of ODSP and OW. Learn more: www.noticenorthyork.ca/queensparkon...
Join SPT and community partners this Thursday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen's Park as we demand the province enact a rent freeze and raise the rates of ODSP and OW. Learn more: www.noticenorthyork.ca/queensparkon...
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Freeze the rent! Raise the rates!
Join SPT and community partners this Thursday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen's Park as we demand the province enact a rent freeze and raise the rates of ODSP and OW. Learn more: www.noticenorthyork.ca/queensparkon...
Join SPT and community partners this Thursday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen's Park as we demand the province enact a rent freeze and raise the rates of ODSP and OW. Learn more: www.noticenorthyork.ca/queensparkon...
On Tuesday October 28 at 7pm, join Workers Action Centre online for the launch of their new report, The Crisis of Wage Theft in Ontario. This report exposes how widespread the problem is and what needs to change. RSVP here:
workersactioncentre.org/new-report-o...
workersactioncentre.org/new-report-o...
New Report on Wage Theft!
Together, we’ll talk about real solutions to stop wage theft, hold employers accountable, and fight poverty in our communities.
workersactioncentre.org
October 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
On Tuesday October 28 at 7pm, join Workers Action Centre online for the launch of their new report, The Crisis of Wage Theft in Ontario. This report exposes how widespread the problem is and what needs to change. RSVP here:
workersactioncentre.org/new-report-o...
workersactioncentre.org/new-report-o...
SPT has partnered with community activist Diana Chan McNally to create TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, a free guide to help organizations and individuals develop strong, positive messaging around homelessness and shelters: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/talking_abou...
Talking About Homelessness
www.socialplanningtoronto.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
SPT has partnered with community activist Diana Chan McNally to create TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, a free guide to help organizations and individuals develop strong, positive messaging around homelessness and shelters: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/talking_abou...
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
From the #LocalArchives: The Annex is shrinking. The towers of Crescent Town are exploding. @simonlewsen.bsky.social on a tale of two cities, and how the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto. thelocal.to/density-the-...
In the Annex and Crescent Town, Two Sides to a Density Dilemma | The Local
The Annex had fewer residents in 2021 than 1971. The towers of Crescent Town had far more. How the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto.
thelocal.to
October 6, 2025 at 1:32 PM
From the #LocalArchives: The Annex is shrinking. The towers of Crescent Town are exploding. @simonlewsen.bsky.social on a tale of two cities, and how the uneven, illogical densification pattern of the last 50 years created today’s Toronto. thelocal.to/density-the-...
Toronto's inclusionary zoning bylaw, which requires certain developments to include affordable housing units, was supposed to take effect in 2022. Yet due to the province's interference with local democracy, it has been delayed by nearly three years: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/inclusionary...
City of Toronto’s Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw Finally Takes Effect After Years of Provincial Delay and Interference in Local Democracy
www.socialplanningtoronto.org
October 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Toronto's inclusionary zoning bylaw, which requires certain developments to include affordable housing units, was supposed to take effect in 2022. Yet due to the province's interference with local democracy, it has been delayed by nearly three years: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/inclusionary...
Some Toronto residents have opposed proposed shelter sites for being too close to parks, daycares, and "family-friendly" neighbourhoods.
The reality is, thousands of Toronto children (and their caregivers) are themselves unhoused. Read our latest op-ed: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
The reality is, thousands of Toronto children (and their caregivers) are themselves unhoused. Read our latest op-ed: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Here’s what ‘thinking of the children’ would really look like when it comes to homelessness in Toronto
We've been facing a homelessness crisis for years in Toronto, but that crisis has now reached catastrophic levels.
www.thestar.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Some Toronto residents have opposed proposed shelter sites for being too close to parks, daycares, and "family-friendly" neighbourhoods.
The reality is, thousands of Toronto children (and their caregivers) are themselves unhoused. Read our latest op-ed: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
The reality is, thousands of Toronto children (and their caregivers) are themselves unhoused. Read our latest op-ed: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
The Etobicoke-Lakeshore Shelter Support Coalition invites curious neighbours to learn together about issues of homelessness via a series of free workshops. Learn more: www.eventbrite.com/e/unhoused-p...
Unhoused people are our neighbours too: A community learning series
A community learning series to learn and discuss issues of homelessness and housing with experts all over the city!
www.eventbrite.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The Etobicoke-Lakeshore Shelter Support Coalition invites curious neighbours to learn together about issues of homelessness via a series of free workshops. Learn more: www.eventbrite.com/e/unhoused-p...
Here are fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for every candidate running for Ward 25—Scarborough–Rouge Park in the September 29, 2025 by-election. thelocal.to/srp2025/ @TheLocal_TO
Here Are the Scarborough–Rouge Park By-Election Candidates | The Local
The only place to find fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for every candidate running for Ward 25—Scarborough–Rouge Park in the September 29, 2025 by-election.
thelocal.to
September 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Here are fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for every candidate running for Ward 25—Scarborough–Rouge Park in the September 29, 2025 by-election. thelocal.to/srp2025/ @TheLocal_TO
A new analysis of provincial data reveals deep inequities in Ontario’s employment services, with social assistance recipients consistently faring worse than other job seekers. Read the full policy brief from Maytree Canada: maytree.com/publications...
Ontario's employment services are failing those in greatest need
The new Integrated Employment Services (IES) system promises to help job seekers find sustainable employment. But new data reveals the system is failing social assistance recipients.
maytree.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A new analysis of provincial data reveals deep inequities in Ontario’s employment services, with social assistance recipients consistently faring worse than other job seekers. Read the full policy brief from Maytree Canada: maytree.com/publications...
Join the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust at the People’s Assembly on Planning!
On August 28, TCLT will be developing a Chinatown People’s Planning Policy which respond to the City of Toronto’s ongoing Chinatown Planning Study. Free; RSVP required: www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-as...
On August 28, TCLT will be developing a Chinatown People’s Planning Policy which respond to the City of Toronto’s ongoing Chinatown Planning Study. Free; RSVP required: www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-as...
People's Assembly on Planning
Interested in shaping the future of planning and development in Toronto's Chinatown? Join our discussion on Thursday, August 28!
www.eventbrite.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Join the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust at the People’s Assembly on Planning!
On August 28, TCLT will be developing a Chinatown People’s Planning Policy which respond to the City of Toronto’s ongoing Chinatown Planning Study. Free; RSVP required: www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-as...
On August 28, TCLT will be developing a Chinatown People’s Planning Policy which respond to the City of Toronto’s ongoing Chinatown Planning Study. Free; RSVP required: www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-as...
“In Parkdale and across the downtown, the cost of housing has become unbearable for so many residents we serve, so many people here who spend 100 per cent of their monthly income on housing, which really leaves nothing for other essentials."
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
To buy or not to buy? Toronto food banks are weighing their real estate options
Downtown food banks are navigating whether to buy property to stabilize their operations — or to hold out hope for a society where they become obsolete
www.torontotoday.ca
July 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“In Parkdale and across the downtown, the cost of housing has become unbearable for so many residents we serve, so many people here who spend 100 per cent of their monthly income on housing, which really leaves nothing for other essentials."
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
Toronto has 1500+ public parks and hundreds of recreation facilities. The City of Toronto is seeking community feedback on their 20-year Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan. The survey is open until September 14: ca.mar.medallia.com?e=461983&d=l...
Survey Phase 2 - PLS & PRFP Review
ca.mar.medallia.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Toronto has 1500+ public parks and hundreds of recreation facilities. The City of Toronto is seeking community feedback on their 20-year Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan. The survey is open until September 14: ca.mar.medallia.com?e=461983&d=l...
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
Friends, you've got a few more hours to register for today's panel as part of the The Big Power Grab Series to learn more about Bills 6, 17, and 33! Join us, Diana, Yaroslava, and Ahona to talk through these important pieces of legislation!
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July 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Friends, you've got a few more hours to register for today's panel as part of the The Big Power Grab Series to learn more about Bills 6, 17, and 33! Join us, Diana, Yaroslava, and Ahona to talk through these important pieces of legislation!
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The City of Toronto is seeking individuals who have lived experience with poverty to join the third cohort of the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG). Applications close August 8. Learn more:
www.toronto.ca/city-governm...
www.toronto.ca/city-governm...
Poverty Reduction Lived Experience Advisory Group
Apply now to join the third cohort of the Lived Experience Advisory Group. Applications close August 8 at 11:59 p.m. . Apply Now The City of Toronto is seeking individuals who have lived experience wi...
www.toronto.ca
July 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The City of Toronto is seeking individuals who have lived experience with poverty to join the third cohort of the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG). Applications close August 8. Learn more:
www.toronto.ca/city-governm...
www.toronto.ca/city-governm...
This is crucial infrastructure that tens of thousands of Torontonians depend on daily. Thank you to
@ttcriders.bsky.social for all your advocacy and mobilizing around this issue.
@ttcriders.bsky.social for all your advocacy and mobilizing around this issue.
The RapidTO lanes for Dufferin Street south of Bloor are APPROVED by Toronto Council 20-3.
July 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This is crucial infrastructure that tens of thousands of Torontonians depend on daily. Thank you to
@ttcriders.bsky.social for all your advocacy and mobilizing around this issue.
@ttcriders.bsky.social for all your advocacy and mobilizing around this issue.
Reposted by Social Planning Toronto
No matter what they’re called, you should know your rights if you’re stopped by a fare inspector, provincial offences officer, or police while on the TTC: www.ttcriders.ca/rights
Know Your Transit Rights
www.ttcriders.ca
July 19, 2025 at 1:11 AM
No matter what they’re called, you should know your rights if you’re stopped by a fare inspector, provincial offences officer, or police while on the TTC: www.ttcriders.ca/rights