The 2024/2025 Winter Services Plan outlines measures the City of Toronto is taking to support people experiencing homelessness during the cold winter season, when health and safety risks are higher.
The Winter Services Plan will add more than 1,200 new shelter system and housing spaces between November 15, 2024 and April 15, 2025. Highlights include:
The Winter Services Plan is designed to be adaptive and may evolve based on demand and availability of appropriate locations to add capacity.
More on each component of the Winter Services Plan can be found below.
In addition to the more than 9,500 spaces currently offered in the shelter system, the City of Toronto is adding approximately 530 spaces this winter by expanding existing shelter programs and opening dedicated 24-hour winter respite sites.
As of November 15, this included:
In addition, starting mid-December, the City will again open a 24-winter respite at the Better Living Centre (195 Princes’ Blvd.). The respite, which will initially open with 240 spaces, will gradually increase to provide 300 all-gender spaces.
Unlike Warming Centres, which are activated when a specific temperature threshold is reached, 24-hour winter respite sites will be open for the duration of the winter season.
To access space in the 24-hour winter respite sites, individuals are encouraged to call Central Intake at 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398.
View locations of 24-Hour Respite Sites.
Warming Centres give those who are vulnerable and may be experiencing homelessness a place to rest and access meals, washroom facilities and referrals to emergency shelter.
There are currently four Warming Centres activated when temperatures reach minus 5 degrees Celsius and/or when Environment and Climate Change Canada issues a winter weather event warning. They are located at:
A fifth Warming Centre activated at this criteria will be available at Metro Hall, starting December 20.
Learn more about Warming Centre services and sign up to be notified when Warming Centres open and close.
At minus 15 degrees Celsius, the City will deploy additional street outreach teams to perform wellness checks and encourage people living outside to come indoors. Outreach staff also hand out blankets, sleeping bags and warm winter clothing all winter long.
The City will also activate approximately 170 additional spaces to get as many people inside as possible during extreme cold temperatures. This will be done by activating additional Warming Centres and opening temporary contingency spaces in areas not traditionally used for sleeping, such as common areas and meeting rooms.
The Warming Centres activated at minus 15 include:
As part of the Winter Services Plan, the City has worked with daytime drop-in providers to extend operations by 200 hours weekly to support people in need this winter.
Drop-ins provide a range of services that may include food, healthcare, showers, laundry, information and referrals, and social and recreational activities to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
To support people experiencing homelessness and individuals with complex needs that may seek shelter on the transit system, Streets to Homes continues to provide 24/7 outreach services on the TTC with a total of 20 staff.
In addition, LOFT Community Services Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Team continues to provide mental health-focused services, including harm reduction support, to individuals experiencing mental health challenges and homelessness.