Toronto Expands Winter Homelessness Plan Despite Claims of Lower Demand
City Hall is increasing shelter and housing capacity by 18 per cent while reporting a drop in the number of people utilizing homelessness services.
The City of Toronto has unveiled its 2026/2027 Winter Services Plan, which is scheduled to operate from Nov. 15 through April 15, 2027. According to reporting from CBC Toronto, the city is expanding its cold-weather response despite stating that demand for homelessness services has decreased.
Toronto Shelter and Support Services General Manager Gord Tanner announced that the city will add up to 1,533 shelter and housing spaces, representing an 18 per cent increase over the previous year. This total includes 505 new shelter spaces, approximately 588 permanent units, and 24-hour winter respite site spaces. The plan also includes 254 warming centre spaces across five sites that open when temperatures drop below -5 C, and 186 surge capacity spaces for temperatures reaching -15 C.
Despite these expansions, a City of Toronto news release claims a decline in service needs. The city reports it currently accommodates 7,000 people nightly, down from 9,000 last year. Additionally, the number of refugee claimants in the shelter system has dropped to approximately 1,200 from around 6,000 in 2024. The city also noted that encampments decreased by nearly 67 per cent, falling from over 353 in October 2025 to about 118 in October 2026.
While noting the drop in demand, Tanner told CBC Toronto that other indicators remain concerning, specifically citing record-high usage of food banks. He further noted that the city is working toward establishing 1,600 new, custom-built shelter spaces by 2033 as part of a broader response to crises in health care, housing, and affordability.