#TorontoON - Sheltering from the storm: how homeless Torontonians turned to #UnionStation as #WarmingCentres filled

While centres save lives, advocates say, Toronto’s winter shelter response is still leaving residents in the cold.

By Victoria Gibson, Jan. 17, 2026

Excerpt: "In winter, the city expands its shelter system — squeezing additional beds into existing shelters, opening up warming centres once temperatures plunge below -5 C, and letting people shelter in contingency spaces such as shelter meeting rooms once temperatures reach -15 C.

"These sites save lives, says Cathy Crowe, a longtime street nurse and homeless advocate in Toronto. But as those facilities, too, are often at or beyond capacity — and people continue to seek refuge in public spaces like transit stations — she sees a city continually unprepared for extreme weather, with safety nets like the shelter system still unable to catch everyone in need.

[...]

"[Unhoused person, Douglas Watt] sees the #CostOfLiving, and #housing, as another major force. 'It’s hard for people to live, and keep up,' he said, noting he relied on disability supports that don’t offer much to cover expenses.

"He used to live with family members outside the GTA, but said they were facing health battles and he didn’t want to add to their stress. So he made the choice to leave without a place to land.

"One shelter in Halton turned him away for lack of room, he said. Some nights, he sleeps at GO stations in Burlington and Oakville. Asked if he’d looked for shelter in Toronto, Watt said he worried about having his possessions stolen.

" 'I’ll be honest with you, shelters are even worse than being on the streets sometimes,' he said."

Read more:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/sheltering-from-the-storm-how-homeless-torontonians-turned-to-union-station-as-warming-centres-filled/article_f1466ac0-8e25-4075-8cda-b971aed26bc9.html

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/pIk2L

@newsbot

#Housing4All #Houseless #Unhoused #TinyHouses #Homeless #Shelters #HomeslessShelters

#Montreal #Canada - New #WarmingCentres offer relief to #unhoused Montrealers during bitter cold

Additional sites, including one in #Rosemont – #LaPetitePatrie, aim to fill critical gaps

CBC News · Posted: Jan 05, 2026

Excerpt: "According to Montreal’s website, the heated spaces are accessible daily during the cold season, in the evening and all night, and will remain open until March 31. Shuttles are available. Visitors can get snacks, hot drinks and referrals to other resources.

Five locations are listed on the city’s website, which says the aim is to co-habitate with the surrounding community. [See link below for locations]"

Source:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-unhoused-warming-centres-9.7034495

Warming centres: Places where unhoused people can relax
Last updated December 18, 2025

Homelessness in Montréal

The city has set up temporary warming centres for people experiencing homelessness. These heated spaces are accessible daily during the cold season, in the evening and all night, and will remain open until March 31, 2026. Visitors can get snacks, hot drinks and referrals to other resources.

Warming centres let people get out of the cold and spend the night in a warm, safe place. They are set up in various city or partner facilities and are run in collaboration with community organizations.

Registration is not required to use the centre.

Actions to promote cohabitation

Warming centres provide a safe and quiet place for unhoused people in the area. Teams and partners are on site to provide psychosocial support, cleanliness and ensure harmonious co-existence with the neighbourhood. Every possible measure has been put in place to limit noise and preserve a peaceful environment.

Safety and security are maintained through close collaboration between the Montréal police and community organizations. Strict rules and close surveillance on site prevent incivility and ensure respectful behaviour."

FMI:
https://montreal.ca/en/articles/warming-centres-places-where-unhoused-people-can-relax-100599

@newsbot

#ArcticBlast #WarmingShelters #WarmingCenters #Montreal #MontrealShelters #PolarVortex #StayWarm #Houseless #Homeless #HotDrinks #OvernightShelters

Open schools and provincial buildings including Queen’s Park as warming centres tonight. Toronto has almost 3 million residents and 115 spaces for the city is not enough. LTC had the army, hospitals had Red Cross. What is @Fordnation doing to help the homeless?

#WarmingCentres #Onpoli #Ontario #Toronto #ToPoli