Community Partnerships
TMU recognizes that as we are part of a larger community, it’s important for us to partner with community agencies in the area on a multidisciplinary approach to safety and security. We are working hard to develop and maintain partnerships with social agencies to bring appropriate services to street-involved individuals who may be experiencing addictions, mental health, and who are unhoused.
City of Toronto staff, Toronto Police Service, Toronto Public Health and community agencies are leaning in together to provide outreach on campus in partnership with our Community Safety and Security department.
By developing partnerships with external social agencies, we aim to inform and advocate to politicians and staff at the City of Toronto and the provincial government to ensure adequate funding to address the social development needs in the area. We work closely with community agencies to share information on common causes, explore issues and find solutions.
Highlighting key community partnerships
Community Safety and Security works in partnership with Covenant House, which supports youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk. Outreach workers from both Community Safety and Security and Covenant House talk to unhoused youth, providing service and referral where needed as well as encouraging them to be good neighbours on our campus. The partnership has now evolved to an explanation of educational pathways for youth who are homeless as well as an annual Free Boutique Clothing Drive for Covenant House Youth.
Community Safety and Security participates in regular outreach with DYBIA, including providing snacks, water, and other necessities, and meets weekly with partners from DYBIA to discuss further opportunities for service provision to at-risk individuals in the community.
Community Safety and Security connects with outreach workers from Streets to Homes (S2H), which is a City of Toronto funded program that provides street outreach and housing-related follow-up support to assist people who are experiencing unhoused and sleeping outdoors in finding and keeping housing.
TPS and Community Safety and Security have an excellent working relationship supporting each other to improve community safety. The TPS Neighbourhood Community Officer Program (external link, opens in new window) complements Community Safety and Security services that include:
- patrols and engagement with the community 24/7
- responses to emergencies and provision of emergency medical assistance;
- accompanying campus members as part of the Community Safety and Security’s WalkSafe program; and
- performing safety patrols on foot and by bike in around the campus’ 52 buildings.
Community Safety and Security patrols regularly with Toronto Public Health outreach workers to identify needs and support community members struggling with addiction.
Community Safety and Security works closely with the newly established Downtown CORE Team (external link, opens in new window) by sitting on their advisory board. This team aims to support street-involved individuals in the downtown area in need of front line medical support.
Community Safety and Security also has a representative at five different community tables that are designed to share expertise and information and problem solve recurring issues in the area. These tables include:
- Downtown East Leadership Table
- Yonge Dundas Safety Network
- Downtown Yonge BIA Safety & Security Network
- Bond Street Shelter Security and Outreach Table
- Furthering Our Communities through United Services (FOCUS)
- Downtown East Justice Centre Committee
- Toronto Police Service - 51 Division Community Liaison Committee