Toronto will add over 1,200 shelter spaces for winter months

TORONTO — The City of Toronto is adding more than 1,200 shelter spaces for people experiencing homelessness later this month as part of its winter services plan.

A news release from the city says this figure includes 370 permanent supportive and subsidized housing units, 244 warm centre spaces that will open when temperatures hit -5 C or colder during winter weather warnings, as well as nearly 490 new shelter spaces and 175 surge capacity spaces to open during extreme temperatures.

The city says it will also dispatch more street outreach teams during extreme cold, and will continue regular outreach programs to provide warm clothing, sleeping bags and other supplies throughout the winter.

The measures will be in place from Nov. 15 to April 15.

The city says a select few new shelter spac