Toronto Moves to Expand Community Crisis Response Across TTC as City Backs Care-Based Approach

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Toronto is moving to expand its community-based mental health crisis response system across the TTC, following a July 21 Executive Committee discussion that highlighted the success of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS).

Launched in 2022, the 24/7 service has responded to nearly 50,000 calls and dispatched mobile crisis teams in more than 41,000 cases. The city is now working to expand the service across the TTC, building on a pilot currently operating along part of Line 1.

The discussion is particularly relevant for residents in Regent Park, Moss Park, St. James Town and surrounding communities, where residents, families and community workers regularly encounter the broader challenges connected to mental health, housing and access to support.

During the meeting, speakers described how crisis workers can offer an alternative to police when police are not required.

“People experiencing mental health crisis are increasingly met by trained crisis workers instead of an immediate police response,” said one speaker, adding: “I believe that's the right approach.”

The proposed expansion would also strengthen coordination with Toronto Paramedic Services and other community and health-care partners. Staff told the committee that integrating crisis response with the 911 dispatch system could help identify appropriate calls more quickly, while residents would continue to access the service through 211.

The city is also looking at expanding crisis response on TTC vehicles and throughout the broader transit network. Staff said the current pilot has shown response times as low as five minutes in some cases, while the city continues to evaluate how the service can reach more riders.

One speaker urged the city to expand the service across the entire TTC, including streetcars.
“It's imperative that its reach can be expanded across the TTC,” they said.

The discussion also emphasized that crisis response cannot be separated from the wider conditions affecting Toronto residents. Access to housing, health care, mental health supports and long-term services remains central to what happens after an immediate crisis.

For our communities in Toronto’s Downtown East, the expansion represents a broader shift toward a response centred on care, appropriate intervention and community well-being—while recognizing that effective crisis support must be available where residents live, travel and seek help.



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