Get To Know Us

Our Mission

Homes First develops and provides affordable, stable housing and support services to break the cycle of homelessness for people with the fewest housing options.

 

Our Vision

Everyone has a home.

The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness – even those with severe mental health and/or substance use issues – can successfully stay housed and off the street with appropriate housing and supports.

Who We Are

About Us

Homes First has been providing supportive housing programs to the city’s most vulnerable people for 40 years.

Homes First has maintained a Housing First ethos focused on providing comprehensive wrap-around services to our clients once their immediate need for housing is addressed.

We currently houses almost 2,300 individuals, including seniors, adults and families, each night. Our agency operates 27 properties in Toronto, ranging from emergency shelters and apartment buildings offering long-term supportive housing.   

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Our Team

Meet Our
Leadership Team

Get to know the Homes First Leadership team. Click here to meet our Governance team.

Patricia Mueller
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Jamie Facciolo
Director of Development and Homelessness Initiatives
Caroline Ferris
Director of Human Resources
Justin Ryan
Director of Property Management Operations
Ade Olubode
Director of Finance (On Leave)
Gary Muirhead
Director of Housing
Dana Hansen
Director of Fundraising and Development
Michael Potvin
Director of Client Services
Jessica Uthayakumaran
Director of shelters
Necole Small
Assistant Director of Property Management Operations
Lacey Kerr
Assistant Director of Client Services
Michael Potvin
Director of Client Services

Would you like to work with us?

We’re continuously looking for great people to join us in our fight for those experiencing homelessness in Toronto. If you think our missions and values align, click on the button below to see and apply for open positions.

We can’t wait to meet you!

Homelessness in Toronto is on the rise.
Toronto should be homefull.

A city FULL of homes. A city FULL of hope. 

Click on the button below to learn more our Homefull Toronto initiative.

About Homelessness
in Toronto

Homelessness is a complex, urgent and growing issue in Toronto.

Visit Toronto’s Shelter System Flow Data webpage for further insight into shelter use in our city.

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The number of individuals experiencing homelessness on any given night in Toronto.

This number continues to grow. 

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Approximately, the number of active shelter beds in Toronto.

Statistics on Homelessness

On any given day over 8,500 people in Toronto are experiencing homelessness.

For every 10,000 people in Toronto, 30 are homeless.

In 2018, nearly half of Toronto’s homeless population reported being homeless for over 6 months, which makes them chronically homeless.

Over 30 per cent of Toronto’s homeless live with a mental health issue, and over 25 per cent live with an addiction.

94 per cent of those experiencing homelessness in Toronto want permanent housing, but face barriers in securing it.

80 per cent said they need more affordable housing options.

In the past 10 years, average market rent for a one-bedroom has increased by 33 per cent. In that same time, Ontario Works shelter benefits have increased only 10 per cent.

Patricia Mueller

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Patricia has worked in the social housing sector for more than twenty years. All of her career choices have had the connecting theme of the support of individual and group empowerment.

Patricia has been the senior leader at Homes First for more than fifteen years. Homes First Society develops and provides affordable, stable housing and support services to break the cycle of homelessness for people with the fewest housing options throughout the City of Toronto. Homes First is financially viable, well managed, and greatly respected by the City of Toronto and other funders. It is poised for growth and positioned well for the future.

Jamie Facciolo

Director of Development and Homelessness Initiatives

Jamie has worked in the housing and homelessness sector for over 20 years. Jamie’s life work is based on the belief that everyone needs a home. Over the years he has worked on the front lines as a shelter worker, a housing worker, and a case support worker. Additionally, he spent time as a Housing and Shelter supervisor, manager and as the Director of Housing and Shelters. 

His work has focused on providing shelter, housing, and support services to people who are most vulnerable, most marginalized and have the fewest housing options. He is currently dedicated to developing a variety of Housing programs specifically designed to meet the needs of Toronto’s chronic homeless population.

Caroline Ferris

Director of Human Resources

Caroline has been active within the Human Resources field for over 25 years, specializing in business operations for non-profits. Caroline joined Homes First 20 years ago and looks forward to continuing to assist the growth of existing staff and the organization alike. 

Justin Ryan

Director of Property Management Operations

Justin Ryan is the Director of Property Management operation at Homes First, managing 14 properties from low rise to high rise as well as seven 24-hour emergency shelters and three hotel shelter programs in the City of Toronto. He has 25 years of extensive experience in the property development and property management field. Over his past 10 years with Homes First, Justin’s management and organization of the maintenance programs and contracts has significantly reduced the organization’s operating costs and has helped foster a healthier environment for residents and employees. His ability to understand and manage residents with extreme complex issues and pairing that with design and development has provided safer environments. Projects he has managed in this time include four large scale elevator modernizations, a 57-thousand square foot floor resurfacing project, a 64 unit building hydro vault replacement, as well as an eight-unit building addition.

Justin has a wealth of experience in property management activities in both shelter and housing program models. He also has lengthy experience in the management of both non-owned and owned building facilities management (preventative maintenance).

Ade Olubode

Director of Finance

Gary Muirhead

Director of Housing

With over 20 years of experience in housing and homelessness, Gary’s journey from Glasgow to Toronto fuels his passion for making a difference.

Having worked in social housing in Scotland’s underprivileged areas, Gary’s commitment to helping those in need led him to Homes First in 2018. He’s focused on expanding our supportive housing initiatives, driven by a vision of a future where everyone has a safe place to call home.

Gary’s dedication and experience are invaluable as we work towards our mission of creating lasting change in the lives of the homeless community.

dana hansen

Director of Fundraising and Development

Dana Hansen has over six years of fundraising and management experience within the Canadian non-profit sector, dedicating her time to causes close to her heart. Having joined the Homes First organization almost 3 years ago, Dana launched the agency’s inaugural Capital Campaign, Homefull Toronto and continues to provide strategic direction for all fund development related initiatives.

Dana is passionate about helping others and making a lasting difference in the lives of our city’s most vulnerable populations. As Director of Fundraising and Development, Dana is committed to a holistic approach to elevating Homes First’s efforts to address chronic homelessness in Toronto. She believes that together, we can build a Homefull Toronto and invites all interested in effecting positive change to join her.

Michael Potvin

Director of Client Services

Michael Potvin MSW., PhD Candidate, is a Director of Client Services with Homes First and oversees a department responsible for providing Housing First case management programs, harm reduction and health services, and oversees evaluations and research. Michael’s work focuses on implementing Evidence Base Practices (EBP) in homeless services, evaluations, and using data to monitor and inform responsive programming to better serve client’s needs.

Michael Potvin holds a Master of Social Work degree from University of Toronto and is completing his PhD at McMaster University.  Michael’s training, research, and education centre around homelessness, Housing First, trauma, psychosis, internalized stigma and oppression and EBP interventions in the homeless sector such as Critical Time Intervention (CTI).

Jessica Uthayakumaran

Director of Shelters

Necole Small

Assistant Director of Property Management Operations

Necole has been active in the housing sector of over 17 years, having joined Homes First in 2007. Necole’s focus as the Assistant Director of Property Management is optimize Homes First’s opening of new programs, supporting property acquisitions, and capital projects. Supporting residents’ goals in both shelter and housing remain Necole’s top priority and looks forward to any opportunity to work directly with our residents.  

Lacey Kerr

Assistant Director of Client Services

Lacey has worked with Homes First since 2020, working in various roles including as a manager of two of our Hotel shelters. Lacey has a background in supportive housing and harm reduction and is currently dedicated to developing supports and programs to serve Toronto’s unhoused population.