$173,300 Ontario government grant has increased Inn From the Cold’s accessibility at its new facility
November 28, 2025
Newmarket, ON – On Friday, local MPP MPP Gallagher Murphy met with the team at Inn From the Cold (IFTC) to learn about how the $173,300 Capital grant that it received earlier this summer from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is making a difference. The year-long grant is helping to make IFTC’s new shelter and transitional housing facility fully accessible. The investment supports the installation of a new elevator and accessibility hardware for all washrooms in the building.
“This investment from the Ontario government through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is helping Inn From the Cold remove barriers and ensure their new facility is welcoming and accessible for everyone who needs support,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket–Aurora. “I’m grateful for the dedicated work of the IFTC team and proud that this provincial funding is strengthening critical services for some of our community’s most vulnerable residents.”
These upgrades will ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness, including seniors, people with disabilities, and community members with mobility needs, can safely access programs and services.
“This new facility represents years of dedication from our Board, our staff, and our community partners. The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support has been instrumental in helping us create a building that is safe, accessible, and welcoming for all. We are proud to see this vision turning into reality, and grateful to everyone who has championed this project alongside us,” said Wayne Ford, Chair, Inn from the Cold.
The grant is being used to fund a fully accessible elevator that connects all three floors of the new facility, as well as enabling the organization to install accessible washroom hardware, as well as new automatic door openers and barrier-free features throughout its site’s client and program spaces. These improvements play a key role in supporting a dignified, safe, and barrier-free environment for the nearly 700 individuals IFTC serves each year.
“We are incredibly grateful for this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant,” said Mafalda Avellino, Interim Executive Director of Inn From the Cold. “These accessibility features ensure that every person who comes through our doors can reach the services, supports, and safe spaces they need. This investment helps us build a truly inclusive and welcoming facility for our community.
Inn From the Cold (IFTC) is a Newmarket-based charitable organization providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, drop-in supports, outreach, meals, and wraparound services for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. With a mission to provide safety, dignity, and pathways to stability, IFTC has served the community for more than 20 years. Its new purpose-built emergency shelter and transitional housing facility will open in 2026, expanding capacity and improving accessibility for residents and program participants.