City of Toronto Unveils Enhanced Winter Services Plan to Combat Homelessness
Toronto, ON — The City of Toronto has released its comprehensive 2024/25 Winter Services Plan aimed at providing increased support for individuals experiencing homelessness during the cold weather months. This year’s plan expands on previous efforts and will be in effect from Friday, November 15, 2024, to Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The initiative will enhance the city’s temporary shelter capacity, activate four Warming Centres, facilitate transitions to supportive housing, and implement surge capacity during extreme cold spells. In total, approximately 1,200 shelter and housing spaces will be made available throughout the winter season.
Key highlights of the 2024/25 Winter Services Plan include:
- Addition of Temporary Spaces: Up to 530 new temporary spaces in the shelter system.
- Warming Centres Activation: Four Warming Centres will offer 218 spaces across the city when temperatures reach minus five degrees Celsius or upon issuance of a winter weather event warning by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
- Surge Capacity: An additional 164 spaces, including another Warming Centre, will be opened when temperatures drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
- Increased Outreach: Additional street outreach teams will be dispatched during extreme cold weather to encourage individuals to come indoors and provide essential supplies such as warm clothing and sleeping bags.
- Supportive Housing Initiatives: Up to 286 new supportive homes and available social housing units will be added throughout the winter.
- Extended Drop-in Program Hours: Operating hours at several daytime drop-in programs will be extended to better serve those in need.
These efforts are made possible through multi-year leasing agreements and partnerships with community organizations, including the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place, which will serve as a dedicated 24-hour winter respite beginning in mid-December. Furthermore, the City plans to create 200 new spaces in refugee houses to support newcomers and connect them to settlement services.
Warming Centre Locations
The Warming Centres will be available at the following locations:
- 136 Spadina Rd.
- 75 Elizabeth St.
- 12 Holmes Ave.
- 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
- 58 Cecil St. (designated as surge capacity during extreme cold)
Addressing Rising Demand for Shelter
The demand for shelter and housing in Toronto has been on the rise due to factors such as inadequate income supports, a shortage of affordable housing, increased living costs, and an influx of refugee claimants. As winter approaches, the urgency for services escalates, with over 12,200 individuals currently supported in the shelter system and bridging hotels. On average, 223 people are turned away each night due to capacity limits.
The City acknowledges the pressing need for more shelter spaces, especially in light of the increasing number of individuals living in encampments. In response, work is advancing on the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS), a ten-year plan designed to improve the stability of the shelter system and respond more effectively to the needs of those experiencing homelessness. The City aims to add up to 20 new shelter sites by 2033, with information about the first sites expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the City is allocating funds to create 200 new spaces in refugee houses, with 100 of those expected to open during the winter. More than half of the current municipal shelter users are refugee claimants, and these smaller housing solutions are designed to provide tailored supports for improved outcomes at lower costs.
The City also resumed its examination of the latest allocation of the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB), which would facilitate permanent housing for 1,700 households, including those in the shelter system, over the next year.
As the City continues to evaluate the Winter Services Plan, officials are committed to identifying areas where additional support may be required to ensure that the needs of Toronto’s vulnerable populations are met this winter.
For more information on the Winter Services Plan, visit Toronto’s Winter Services Plan page.
