Toronto city officials have released details about where a number of new homeless shelters will be built in the coming years, hours before warming centres are set to open to help vulnerable people get inside as the temperature plunges.
The city plans to open six new 80-person shelters by 2030, with two set to open in 2027. Here’s where they’ll be located:
- 1615 Dufferin St. (just south of St. Clair Avenue West) — set to open in 2027.
- 2535 Gerrard St. E. (east of Victoria Park Avenue) — set to open in 2027.
- 2024-2212 Eglinton Ave. W. (near Caledonia Road).
- 68 Sheppard Ave. (just west of Yonge Street).
- 66 Third St. (near Lake Shore Boulevard and Islington Avenue).
- 1220 Wilson Ave. (near Humber River Hospital).
The city’s website about the sites said their locations have been chosen so the shelter system can support areas with “significant need” and focus on serving certain groups or communities.
Several councillors and city staffers are set to provide more information Wednesday afternoon about the expansion of the shelter system, as well as to update the public on the work being done to help homeless people during the winter months.
The city has added more temporary shelter spaces, warming centres and respite sites this winter, but city data shows there are about 225 people per night who can’t find a shelter bed as of October.
As of Dec. 9, there were 11,476 people staying in the city’s entire shelter system, city data shows
Warming centres open at 5 p.m.
The city will open four warming centres as of 5 p.m. as icy cold weather arrives. They can be found at:
- 136 Spadina Rd. (south of Dupont St.)
- 81 Elizabeth St. (behind City Hall. West of Bay St., south of Dundas St. W.)
- 12 Holmes Ave. (Off of Yonge St., south of Finch Ave. E.)
- 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. (East of Markham Rd., south of Ellesmere Rd.)
The city said walk-ins are welcome at the warming centres and that if one is full it will arrange for transportation to another.