Developing homeless shelters through public–private partnerships: The case of the Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto

ABSTRACT

This article examines the possibility of delivering much-needed social service facilities such as homeless shelters by integrating them into for-profit building developments through public–private partnerships. It draws on the case study of the Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto, a unique project that incorporates an emergency homeless shelter for families, women, and children into an upscale condominium apartment building. The study shows that interinstitutional collaborations enable public- and private-sector entities to realize their goals for urban development projects that neither could achieve on their own. In particular, innovative mixed-use development partnerships can enhance access to scarce development sites, augment project funding, generate community support for controversial projects, and share and mitigate project risks between the partners. Nevertheless, barriers to public–private mixed-use buildings include lengthy and complicated planning processes, challenges finding complementary land uses, and the need to carefully align the interests between the partners.

Conflict of interest

I have donated $100 to the Red Door shelter nonprofit organization. This donation was made before I identified and began researching this case study.

Additional information

Funding

I acknowledge funding support for this research from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Grant Number 435-2016-0272.

Notes on contributors

Matti Siemiatycki

Matti Siemiatycki is Associate Professor of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. His teaching and research focuses on infrastructure planning, financing, and project delivery.