Photo credit: Toronto Today
Several of the city’s warming centres were at full capacity on Friday and some advocates alleged that people have been turned away.
Toronto Today reports that the city saw its coldest nights in years as lows dipped below -20 C, with temperatures over the weekend expected to drop to about -30 C with windchill.
According to open data from the City of Toronto, three of its warming centres were at 100 percent capacity on Friday, January 23, with the remaining centres between 85 and 95 per cent capacity.
The city operates five regular warming centres, which open when temperatures hit -5 C or during winter weather event warnings, and two surge sites which open when the temperature drop below -15 C. The sites operate on a walk-in basis and offer a place for people without access to shelter to rest and access meals, washrooms, and emergency shelter referrals. All seven sites are currently open.
