A Home. A Job. A Friend. A Neighbourhood.

Hi Neighbour,

Well, this edition of our community newsletter is landing a little later than usual, but 2026 has already been an eventful year at PARC.

January has been a tough one and we will provide some updates about the fire at one of our building. On a brighter note, we are also sharing our free Black History Month programming, updates on our incredible kitchen team's year-end numbers and progress on the 11 Brock supportive housing development.

We're grateful you're here with us. Don't forget that you can reply to this email if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see in our future newsletters!

Plenty to share, so let's get into it!

Warmly,

Kerry from PARC

Fire at 1501 Queen St West Apartment

We are sad to share that a serious fire occurred at our 1501 Queen Street West residence in the early hours of Sunday, January 18th. Security immediately contacted Emergency Services, who responded quickly, with PARC staff arriving on site soon after to support tenants.

One person remains in hospital and continues to improve. A second person was also transported to hospital but was thankfully discharged soon after.

Seven tenants have been rehoused with help from our partners for as long as necessary. while we await confirmation from Toronto Fire Services regarding when they may safely return to their units. Our team is providing daily support, including medication, food cards, pet supplies, toiletries, and warm clothing. We have also encouraged all those affected to stay connected and use the Drop-In.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and we are working closely with Toronto Fire Services to determine how it started.

We want to thank our neighbours, partners, and friends for the incredible outpouring of care and support. Your kind messages and offers of help have meant so much to our staff, members, and tenants during a very difficult time. We are especially grateful to Toronto Emergency Services and to the many PARC staff who worked tirelessly to support tenants throughout this crisis.

Many have asked how they can help right now. If you are able, we welcome donations to provide essential items and services while residents recover and prepare to return home. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference. We're so grateful for the outpouring of support we've already received from our community.

Free Black History Month Programming

PARC is celebrating Black history with our members for the month of February. Our Thursday afternoon movies will be featuring notable Black films, including Judas and the Black Messiah and Love & Basketball. Our member book club will be reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and we'll be featuring Black authors and poets as part of our writing and poetry groups this month.

All are welcome to our free Black History Month programming this February.

116,041 Community Meals Served in 2025

Last year, PARC's Community Meal Program served 116,041 free, nutritious meals to our community in our drop-in centre. This was an increase of over 5,500 meals from 2024.

We're proud to show up for our neighbours, but rising numbers reflect rising need for access to food in our City. Food insecurity is tied directly to housing instability, mental health challenges, and the ability for our community members to rebuild their lives.

We know that a stable home is the foundation for health and recovery. That's why we remain committed to a Housing First approach: once someone is housed, they're better positioned to tackle priorities like income, health, and reconnection with community. But until that home is secured, a hot meal and a place to belong can make the difference between getting through the day and giving up.

Supporting our Neighbours in the Cold

Cold weather is a health emergency for people without stable housing. Research done in Toronto shows that most hypothermia cases among people experiencing homelessness happen on ordinary winter days, not just during extreme cold alerts.

Here's how you can help your neighbours in the cold:

Offer warmth. Warm socks, toques, gloves, and hand warmers make a real difference. You can give directly, or donate these to PARC. Providing hot drinks and calorie-dense foods can also help the body stay warm. If buying food, consider first asking what they would like to eat.

Share information. Let someone know they can come to PARC's Drop-In. We're open 7 days a week with extended hours on weekdays through April. You can also check the Warming Centre map by the City of Toronto.

Call for help when needed. If you're concerned about someone, call 311 and ask for their Streets to Homes outreach team to perform a wellness check. If you come across someone who is unresponsive, has stopped shivering, or is in immediate danger, contact 911.

Cold Weather & Health

• 72% of hypothermia cases among people experiencing homelessness happen in temperatures warmer than −15°C.
• 25% of all emergency department visits for hypothermia in Toronto are people experiencing homelessness, despite representing less than 1% of the city's population.
• For every 5°C drop in temperature, the risk of hypothermia increases by 64%.
• 24% of people experiencing homelessness in one study had been hospitalised for respiratory illness during cold weather.
• 37% of people experiencing homelessness reported worsening mental health during cold exposure. Winter isolation, depression, and the inability to cope increase alongside physical health risks.

Access to warm, safe spaces is necessary for physical and mental health. While systemic change is the ultimate solution, community action can save lives.

A Community where People Rebuild Their Lives

Visit us online: parc.on.ca

Instagram & Facebook

To donate: parc.on.ca/donate