Housing advocates say Toronto’s winter services plan to help those experiencing homelessness is an improvement, but there’s still more work to be done to keep people warm and dry this winter.
Starting today, the City of Toronto has added 1,275 shelter spaces for people experiencing homelessness to its shelter system for the winter.
The plan, which will last until April 15, features additional permanent and supportive subsidized housing units, warming respite centres that will open when temperatures hit -5 C or lower or during winter weather warnings, as well as additional shelter spaces and surge capacity spaces during extreme temperatures.
David Reycraft, the president of the Toronto Shelter Network, says he is happy to see the city open 370 new housing spaces, but adds the city is still struggling to meet the needs of those who aren’t lucky enough to get into those spaces.
Melody Li, who is the executive director of Homeless Connect Toronto, says because those spaces are often triggered by extreme temperatures, it’s difficult to get the word out when those spaces are open to a population that might not have consistent internet access.
Li says people can get frostbite from prolonged exposure to the cold regardless of temperature, and having more indoor spaces is critical to prevent this.
