Photo credit: CBC
Toronto plans to build new homeless shelters in the coming years.
CBC News reports that city officials announced this on Wednesday, before warming centres were set to open so vulnerable people could get indoors before temperatures plunge.
The city plans to open two 80-person shelters by 2027 and the remainder by 2030. They will be located as listed below.
X 1615 Dufferin Street – set to open in 2027
X 2535 Gerard Street – set to open in 2027
X 2024-2212 Eglington Ave. W.
X 68 Sheppard Avenue
X 66 Third St.
X 1220 Wilson Ave.
Gord Tanner, head of shelter and support services for the city, said the locations were chosen so that the shelter system could serve areas with “significant need” and focus on serving certain groups or communities. “Homelessness is experienced in all parts of the city, and these sites reflect that we are looking in every ward of this city for these important services.”
Meanwhile, warming centres were opened at 5 p.m. on Wednesday as wintry weather arrived. The city opens warming centres when temperatures drop below -5 C. There is one additional “surge site” for when temperatures drop below -15 C, but the city isn’t planning to open it on Wednesday.
The warming centres can be found at:
X 136 Spadina Road
X 81 Elizabeth St
X 12 Holmes Ave.
X 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
Metro Hall, located downtown, will be available as a warming centre with 30 spaces when temperatures drop below -5 C as of December 20.
As of Saturday, Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre on Queen Street will also be available as a warming centre. It will offer 30 spaces and will open when temperatures drop below -15 C.
