Toronto Clears Dufferin Grove Park Encampment After Residents Demand Permanent Housing
In a tense standoff that highlighted the ongoing homelessness crisis in Canada’s largest city, Toronto municipal workers cleared a long-standing encampment at Dufferin Grove Park on September 26, 2025, despite pleas from the remaining residents for permanent housing solutions. The west-end park, a community hub since February for over 70 unhoused individuals, saw city vehicles remove tents and belongings amid a heavy police and security presence, marking the culmination of weeks of escalating eviction efforts. As caution tape fluttered and a fence went up around the site, advocates decried the action as a failure of the city’s “housing-first” approach, while officials insisted every effort had been made to provide alternatives.
The clearance came after a small group of holdouts—down from the initial dozens—vowed not to leave without guarantees of stable homes, rejecting temporary shelters as inadequate. Tensions boiled over as video footage captured a resident being forcibly removed, prompting immediate backlash from supporters who had rallied at the park for weeks. The Community Justice Collective, providing legal aid to the encampment, fired off a letter demanding the city replace destroyed personal items, accusing officials of mishandling “biohazardous” waste as a pretext for hasty disposal.
The Encampment’s Story: From Refuge to Resistance
Dufferin Grove Park, a 14-acre green space in Toronto’s west end known for its community gardens and playgrounds, became an unintended symbol of the city’s housing shortfall when the encampment sprang up in February 2025. What started as a response to overflowing shelters—Toronto’s system at 95% capacity amid a 20% rise in homelessness since 2023—grew into a resilient community, with residents organizing mutual aid and advocating for systemic change. By mid-September, only a handful remained, fortified by allies who decried the city’s trespass notices as “dehumanizing.”
Supporter Michael DeForge, speaking to Global News on September 19, emphasized the residents’ exhaustion with temporary fixes: “Many have been through the shelter system—it’s not a path to permanent housing.” The group’s demands echoed broader calls for a “housing-first” model, where stable roofs precede other supports, a policy Toronto pledged but critics say it underfunds. Over 70 residents had been referred to shelters since February, with nine securing housing, per city data—but the holdouts viewed these as insufficient, citing safety concerns and lack of accessibility.
The clearance unfolded swiftly Friday morning: Workers in hazmat gear dismantled tents, tagging salvageable items for storage while discarding contaminated materials. Police and private security formed a perimeter, with no arrests reported but heightened emotions leading to confrontations. A city spokesperson defended the action: “Every effort was made to care for those encamped… and avoid enforcement,” reiterating offers of shelter and services remain open.
Broader Context: Toronto’s Homelessness Crunch
Toronto’s encampment clearances are part of a citywide push to reclaim public spaces, with over 100 sites addressed since 2023 amid a surge in visible homelessness—up 50% post-pandemic, per city shelters. Critics, including the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, argue these sweeps exacerbate the crisis, displacing people without addressing root causes like a 7% vacancy rate and $2,500 average rents. Mayor Olivia Chow’s administration has pledged 65,000 affordable units by 2030, but advocates like DeForge call it “too little, too late,” especially for those with disabilities or families in the encampments.
Gord Tanner, the city’s shelter services GM, reiterated Friday: “We continued to offer housing and services… the park must be available to the broader community.” Yet, the Community Justice Collective’s letter demands compensation for lost belongings, framing the clearance as a violation of human rights.
Community Reactions: Outrage, Grief, and Calls for Change
The swift action drew immediate fury. Supporters gathered post-clearance, chanting “Housing not handcuffs” as videos of the forcible removal went viral on social media, amassing over 50,000 views. “This is eviction, not support,” tweeted activist @TorontoTentCity, echoing sentiments from over 200 replies. Local resident Michelle Hussain, speaking to CP24, lamented: “The city’s talking human rights but offering shelters that aren’t safe or suitable.”
City Councilor Alejandra Bravo, whose ward includes the park, called for an urgent review: “We need real investment in housing, not just sweeps.” On the flip side, some neighbors welcomed the clearance, citing safety concerns and park overuse. A makeshift memorial of flowers and signs—”Homes for All”—sprouted by evening, blending grief with defiance.
Implications for Toronto: A Housing Reckoning?
This episode spotlights Toronto’s deepening affordability crisis, where 90,000 households await social housing and encampments have become a flashpoint for policy debates. With Ontario’s 2025 budget allocating $1.3 billion for homelessness initiatives, advocates demand more targeted aid—rapid rehousing vouchers and mental health supports—over reactive clearances.
For the displaced residents, the path forward remains uncertain: City shelters offer beds, but without permanent options, cycles of displacement persist. As Dufferin Grove heals, the standoff underscores a stark truth: Clearing tents clears space, but without homes, it clears little else.
By Sam Michael
September 30, 2025
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