Hundreds of people who have been sheltering for almost two months at a temporary winter respite centre on the grounds of Exhibition Place will soon have to find a new place to sleep, as the city begins winding down operations at the building.
Toronto will extend the leases of 17 temporary shelter hotels for up to five years as part of its services for unhoused people, city council decided this week.
Advocates are calling on the city to keep warming centres open all winter long, saying unhoused people face real danger as the temperature remains below freezing.
Toronto officials are once again calling on the federal government to "step up" with more funding for the city's strained shelter system, as staff project daily demand for spaces to reach 10,000 once winter temperatures set in.