With the right support, even the most vulnerable folks can stand on their own. And as more Torontonians lose their jobs and their homes, our members are there to provide that support whatever it may be. From helping neighbours find a new job to helping them find shelter for the night, we know this work is worth it.
For newcomers, struggling families and others facing disruption in their lives, support finding resources and opportunities can make a huge difference. That’s why our members in Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS) help families and individuals navigate a path through crisis and poverty to opportunity and self-reliance.
Supported more than 110,000 Ontario Works cases.
Helped 31,882 people find work.
Connected 1,242 youth with opportunities through the Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE).
Connected over 200 low-income residents to a career path in construction, including training, trade union membership or employment opportunities.
Members like Jovawn have a simple mission: connecting people with opportunities. As more Torontonians struggle to find employment, this support has never been more valuable.
Every night, our city shelters give nearly 7,000 people a warm place to sleep. CUPE Local 79 represents more than 500 full-time and 400 part-time workers in the Shelter, Support & Housing Administration who help provide a secure place to stay for homeless families and people leaving abusive situations, as well as those experiencing mental health issues and addiction.
Shlomo
Shelter Outreach Worker
We go out into the community and try to find ways to support folks that are being forgotten, even as more people are being pushed to the brink of experiencing homelessness. The vast majority would step up and help themselves if it wasn’t for a gauntlet of obstacles — and those are the challenges we help guide folks through.
Shlomo and members like him bring empathy and compassion to every interaction they have with neighbours living on the street facing homelessness. They’re problem-solvers, mediators and advocates for people who often have nowhere else to turn.
TESS workers are stretched thin, with individuals responsible for dozens of families amounting to hundreds of clients. They often lack the equipment and support necessary to manage their caseload effectively.
Over 90,000 households are waiting for social housing, and the solutions aren’t being built fast enough to keep up. Just like our shelter system, our shelter workers are maxed out and the City is falling behind the increasing demand for services and support. Emergency homeless shelters are overflowing after years of delay in adding more beds, and legacy shelters are falling apart after years of neglect.
Many of our members experience workplace violence and harassment daily. But the City wants to reduce the mental and physical health supports that ensure they can sustain this work.
Resilient neighbourhoods are worth it. Help us continue to deliver the services our communities depend on.
416 977-9546
Keeping Toronto at its best is what gets us up every morning. The work is worth it. And so are we.