Each year, the City of Toronto activates a Winter Services Plan to provide additional capacity and services to support individuals experiencing homelessness during the cold winter months (November 15 to April 15), when health and safety risks are higher than normal.
The City’s 2024/2025 winter response has now concluded. A summary of elements included in the 2024/2025 plan can be found below.
Planning for the 2025/2026 season has begun and will take into consideration operational data and feedback from the past season. Details will be released in fall 2025.
Summary of 2024/2025 Winter Services Plan
The 2024/2025 winter season brought prolonged cold snaps and heavier snowfall than seen in previous years. Working with staff and partners from across the homelessness services sector, the City was able to provide approximately 1,200 shelter system and housing spaces throughout the winter season.
Components included:
- Offering approximately 530 additional spaces, available throughout the entire winter season, through expanded shelter programs and dedicated 24-hour winter respite sites
- Activating 265 Warming Centre spaces when temperatures reached -5 degrees Celsius or during a winter weather event warning. In response to the forecast, these Centres were open to new admissions 78 nights, almost twice as many as last winter season
- Making another 173 surge spaces available when temperatures reached -15 degrees Celsius, as enhanced outreach teams worked to get people inside. These spaces and services were activated 18 nights, compared to just 7 in 2023/2024
- Providing extended operating hours at several day-time drop-in programs
- Working to connect 357 households with City-funded social and supportive housing units that became available throughout the winter season
