In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fred Victor was asked by the City of Toronto to operate the Edward Hotel as an emergency shelter to serve up to 300 people. The Edward Hotel Emergency Shelter welcomes women, men, and couples who are experiencing homelessness and barriers to housing. It offers on-site enhanced case management and housing services as well as harm reduction, health, and other services. The goal of the Edward Hotel Emergency Shelter is to help clients find permanent, affordable, and safe housing with supports that meet their needs.

Fred Victor commissioned an evaluation of the shelter by Hub Solutions, a social enterprise embedded in the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, one of Canada’s leading homelessness research organizations. From March to May 2022 Hub Solutions conducted a literature review to explore the feasibility of hotel shelters before and during the pandemic. They also engaged with program clients, staff, and partners by means of a survey and interviews. The report and accompanying summary detail the findings and recommendations from this research.