More has to be done to house the homeless in cities like Toronto, experts told Humber News as Toronto City Council on Tuesday was set to discuss the issue.
“People who are without shelter need a safe place to go when the weather is cold, including people who are living outside in tents,” said William L O’Grady, a professor at the University of Guelph.
“People could get frostbite or even freeze to death,” he said.
Although temperatures have risen in recent days, Environment Canada last week issued warnings about extreme cold in Ontario and homeless advocates said warming centers in Toronto were overcapacity.
“Many people who were put up in hotels/motels during COVID have lost that housing and are at risk of succumbing to the elements in the middle of the winter if they can’t find shelter,” said O’Grady who has a longstanding interest in marginalized youth and has focused his research on youth homelessness in recent years.
“People who are without shelter need a safe place to go when the weather is cold, including people who are living outside in tents,” he said.
Two of the only warming centres in the downtown core were overcapacity, and the other two operating at almost 100 per cent, City News reported .
The city was able to add more than 400 spaces quickly, but advocates say the situation was heartbreaking.
“People could get frostbite or even freeze to death. Many people who were put up in hotels/motels during COVID have lost that housing and are at risk of succumbing to the elements in the middle of the winter if they can’t find shelter,” O’Grady said.
Jeff Karabanow, a Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University in the Faculty of Health told Humber News action needs to be taken to keep people off the streets during these cold times.
“This is life and death. Every municipality needs to map out the emergency decorlations when you have major enviornmental disasters, extreme weather cases, so that everybody can have the opportunity to be safe,” said Karabanow who has worked with homeless young people in Toronto,
Karabanow explained he doesn’t believe in ‘bandaid’ approaches. “If we had affordable housing we wouldn’t need warming centers,” he said.
The Toronto Shelter and Housing Justice Network on Monday called on city council to keep open five shelters that opened during the pandemic and are scheduled to close this year as the city transitions away from temporary sites.
Additionally, the network asking that nearly $50 million of the proposed police budget increase instead be spent on funding shelters.
The board heard compelling stories from health professionals about treating people who have lost fingers and toes after being exposed to elements and according to the weather agency, exposed skin could develop frostbite within minutes in the cold.
As of last Friday, the city of Toronto said it had increased capacity at its shelters and warming centres, and had directed workers in the system to not turn anyone away during the extreme cold.
Prior to the series of council votes that will determine the fate of certain temporary shelters and warming centers, protesters rallied outside Toronto City Hall calling for more shelter spaces and social services.
Toronto’s website states that warming centers aim to keep vulnerable residents inside. A variety of amenities are provided, including resting areas, snack areas, washrooms, and referrals to emergency shelters
To access a Warming Centre, individuals do not need to contact Central Intake. Walk-ins are accepted. In addition, there are a number of drop-in programs available throughout the city.