More than 650 shelter spaces will be created for individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto this winter, according to the city.
On Tuesday, Toronto released its plan on how it will support some of the city’s most vulnerable residents during the winter season.
The 2023/24 Winter Services Plan includes expanding capacity in shelters, activating four warming centres and opening a 24-hour respite site. This, in addition to new supportive housing, will create more than 650 spaces for unhoused individuals.
“Today, with the release of the 2023/24 Winter Services Plan, I commend the efforts of city staff who have worked diligently to secure critical resources and support for people experiencing homelessness this winter season,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a written statement.
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The city updates its winter plan annually from Nov. 15 to April 15 to help protect residents from cold weather conditions. According to a news release on Tuesday, this year the city’s plan includes the following:
- Adding up to 180 spaces in the shelter system
- Opening a 24-hour respite site with capacity for approximately 40 people
- Activating 170 spaces via four Warming Centres located across the city when Temperatures reach minus five degrees Celsius
- Up to 275 housing opportunities through new supportive homes and available social housing units with supports
- Enhancing street outreach and, when temperatures reach minus 15 degrees Celsius, encouraging people to come indoors
- Opening additional surge spaces when temperatures reach minus 15 degrees Celsius
With these implementations in mind, the city still acknowledges that it is not enough to address the increasing demand for shelter and housing, which is why it is asking for immediate support from the federal and provincial governments to step up its funding.
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Currently, the city is sheltering 10,700 people with approximately 9,000 people in the shelter system and 1,700 people outside the shelter system with the help of the Canadian Red Cross.
“Despite adding more than 1,100 shelter spaces last year, the system is at capacity most nights and on average, approximately 275 people are unmatched for shelter every night,” city officials said in a news release.
“The City expects demand to continue to rise throughout the winter season for many reasons including insufficient affordable housing supply, increasing living costs, inadequate wage and income supports and an increasing number of refugee claimants and asylum seekers arriving in the city,” they continued.
Among the new and most integral components of this year’s plan includes the activation of four warming centres across the city. These are located at 136 Spadina Road, 75 Elizabeth Street, 15 Olive Avenue and 885 Scarborough Golf Club Road.
Warming centres will open when temperatures reach minus five degrees Celsius or colder and/or when Environment Canada issues a winter weather event warning.
Based on this new criteria, warming centres are expected to remain open longer during the winter season compared to previous years. Members can be notified of warming centre hours by checking the city’s website.
“Warming Centres give those who are vulnerable and may be experiencing homelessness a safe indoor and warm place to rest and access snacks, washroom facilities and referrals to emergency shelters where they can access housing workers and other wraparound supports,” the city said.
Furthermore, up to 275 supportive homes are expected to become available to move people experiencing homelessness from shelters into permanent housing this winter season.
“The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan targets the approval of 47,500 new affordable rental homes, including 18,000 supportive homes with approximately 6,500 rent-geared-to-income homes by 2030,” the city explained.
The city says talks with the federal government regarding the need for funding and a response to homelessness and the rise in refugee claimants have been lingering for over a year.
