About The Program
The Safe Bed program provides temporary residential support for individuals living with serious mental illness, who are experiencing a crisis and are unable to remain in their current living situation. The goal is to support individuals through the immediate crisis and link them to community services for ongoing support.
Through two service streams, Safe Bed Generic and Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice, the program assists individuals with addressing their immediate physical and mental health needs and develops long-term interventions.
Services provided by Safe Bed include:
- Crisis support and counselling
- Provision of basic living needs (e.g. food, clothing, personal care items)
- Development of daily living skills (e.g. cooking, housekeeping, hygiene)
- Advocacy, referrals and linkages to community-based services and supports
Areas served
Safe Bed provides 24/7 on-site support for up to 30 days in our buildings in North York and Scarborough.
The Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice services are part of a larger city-wide initiative where similar services are provided in other areas by the Gerstein Crisis Centre and Reconnect Community Health Services. Priority referral sources may apply for Safe Bed Mental Health and Justice services at any of the above-noted organizations by contacting the Safe Bed Registry at 416-248-4174.
Safe Bed Generic services
Clients served:
- Individuals who are 16 years of age and older
- Individuals living with serious mental illness
- Individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Individuals who can be safely supported in the community and who are not at risk of harming themselves or others
Who can make a referral:
- Referrals can be completed by community sources such as case managers, social workers, crisis workers, and medical professionals. Self and family referrals will be considered on a limited basis.
Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice services
Clients served:
- Individuals who meet the criteria above, and
- Individuals who are currently involved with the criminal justice system
Who can make a referral:
- Referrals are limited to priority referral sources, which include the police, correctional facilities, probation and parole officers, and law & mental health programs.
Who's It For
Individuals 16+ who are living with serious mental illness, experiencing a crisis and are unable to remain in their current living situation, and who may be currently involved with the criminal justice system.
How IT Works
The procedure to make a referral to either Safe Bed Generic or Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice services is as follows:
- Eligible referrers can call the registry at 416-248-4174 to inquire about the availability of a bed. If there are no beds available, they will be directed to check back at a later time.
- If a bed is available, registry staff will complete an application form over the telephone.
- Registry staff will fax the completed application form to the location with the available bed. Within one hour of the form being sent, the referrer will need to call the Safe Bed location site where the client’s referral was sent in order to arrange an intake appointment with the client. The intake assessment will occur within four hours.
REFERRAL INFO
Phone
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who are Safe Bed Generic services for?
- Individuals who are 16 years of age and older
- Individuals living with serious mental illness
- Individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Individuals who can be safely supported in the community and who are not at risk of harming themselves or others
Who are Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice services for?
- Individuals who meet the criteria above, and
- Individuals who are currently involved with the criminal justice system
Who can make a Generic services referral?
Referrals to the Generic Safe Beds can be completed by community sources such as case managers, social workers, crisis workers, and medical professionals. Self and family referrals will be considered on a limited basis.
Who can make a Mental Health & Justice services referral?
Access to the Mental Health & Justice Safe Beds is limited to priority referral sources, which include the police, correctional facilities, probation and parole officers, and law & mental health programs.
What areas does the Safe Bed Program serve?
Both program streams serve North York & Scarborough.
The Safe Bed Mental Health & Justice services are part of a larger city-wide initiative where similar services are provided by the Gerstein Crisis Centre and Reconnect Community Health Services in other areas of the city. Priority referral sources may apply for Safe Bed Mental Health and Justice services at any of the above-noted organizations by contacting the Safe Bed Registry at 416-248-4174.
How often do beds open up?
How often a bed will open up is unpredictable, so we encourage you to call daily to check on bed availability.
What is the best time to call?
Scheduled discharges tend to happen in the morning, so it is best to call then. However, unexpected discharges can happen at any time and it is advised to call throughout the day to check on availability.
Is this line for all the Safe Beds in Toronto?
This Registry line is for Safe Beds in Toronto run by CMHA Toronto, Gerstein MHJ Safe Beds and Reconnect MHJ Safe Beds.
Can you check beds for Central Intake as well?
We cannot check for beds at Central Intake. Central Intake can be accessed by calling 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398 or by calling 311.
Can you call me when a bed opens up?
As beds are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, Registry staff cannot call back when a bed opens up. If there is no bed available when you call the Registry, it is advised that you keep calling throughout the day to check on availability.
Is there a waitlist?
There is no waitlist for the Safe Bed program. All referrals are completed on a first-come, first-served basis depending on bed availability.
Contact Us
West Office
700 Lawrence Ave W,
Suite #480 Toronto,
ON M6A 3B4
East Office
1200 Markham Rd,
Suite #500 Scarborough,
ON M1H 3C3
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