Toronto announces winter plan for homeless shelters, but says more needs to be done

The City of Toronto volition grow the capableness of its structure strategy this winter, but says much inactive needs to beryllium done to code the expanding demands of the homelessness crisis.

The metropolis says it volition beryllium adding up to 530 impermanent spaces to existing shelters, and activate 218 spaces successful 4 warming centres crossed the metropolis erstwhile temperatures scope -5 C oregon erstwhile the national situation bureau issues a wintertime upwind warning.

It besides expects to unfastened 286 caller societal lodging units passim the wintertime season.

Since much than fractional of the radical utilizing shelters are exile claimants, the metropolis says it volition make 200 caller spaces successful exile houses, 100 of which volition unfastened this winter.

But the metropolis says these seasonal plans can’t afloat code the problem, arsenic much than 200 radical are turned distant from shelters each night.

Coun. Alejandra Bravo said portion the metropolis is moving connected further resources, “more needs to beryllium done” to amended the capableness of a strategy that presently supports 12,200 people.

Trending Now

“Toronto is successful a lodging crisis, and galore radical are struggling with rising rents, the outgo of living, and the financialization of rental housing,” Bravo said successful a connection Tuesday.

Gord Tanner, wide manager of the city’s structure and enactment services, said portion predicting aboriginal structure request is complicated, thousands of radical are struggling to spend rent and the metropolis indispensable bash what it tin to forestall them from becoming homeless.

“City of Toronto unit volition proceed to look for ways to amended however we assistance radical experiencing homelessness, particularly during the peculiarly challenging acold wintertime months,” helium said successful a statement.