Toronto releases winter plan for unhoused people, but advocates say it won't get everybody out of the cold

Toronto will open 1,275 additional shelter spaces for unhoused people this winter, but advocates say the plan is not robust enough to get everybody without a home out of the cold.

The city will provide more spaces in shelters, 24-hour respite sites and warming centres, open units in supportive and subsidized housing and make surge capacity spaces available, as part of its winter services plan for people experiencing homelessness, according to Gordon Tanner, manager of Toronto Shelter and Support Services.

The plan, released on Friday, runs from Nov. 15 to April 15, 2026.

"This year's plan looks very much like last year, but there's always learning to be done," Tanner said.

This weekend, the city will open a "select" number of warming centre spaces ahead of the plan's launch. Environment Canada has said between two and 10 centimetres of snow could fall in Toronto on Sunday and the temperature could drop to – 5 C at night.

Tanner said the city will initially expand the shelter system with about 490 new beds.

When the temperature drops below – 5 C, it will open five warming centres throughout the city, which means 244 spaces. Then, when the temperature plunges to –15 C, the city will open another two warming centres that will add about another 175 surge capacity spaces.

To help people move out of the shelter system, the city will open 370 supportive and subsidized housing units over the course of winter, he added.

Tanner said the city will also extend the hours of several daytime drop-in programs, which provide food, healthcare, showers, laundry and recreational activities, by 262 extra hours of service a week.

When the temperature reaches – 15 C, he said the city will also deploy additional street outreach teams to encourage people to come indoors. Staff will continue to conduct regular outreach to provide services as well as warm clothing and sleeping bags during the winter.

Melody Li, executive director of Homeless Connect Toronto, said she welcomes the city's plan, but says ultimately affordable housing is the solution. Homeless Connect Toronto co-ordinates “one-stop-shop” events for people at risk of and experiencing homelessness in Toronto.

"I've seen more commitment even from the city ... to ensure not just shelter spaces, but longer-term affordable housing options available in the next 10 years. I can see that reflected in this plan as well, which is good, but still a long way to go."

Diana Chan McNally, a community worker, said there are still barriers that haven’t been addressed in the plan and says the city should provide TTC fare to unhoused people.

"We don't actually have a transportation plan for people. We are suggesting to them, get on the TTC, go there, but they may not actually have the fare. So there's always some kind of barrier for people to be accessing these programs," she said.