Housing advocates are criticising the City of Toronto’s frequent closures of its warming centres this week. 

Advocates said that the city continues to close these centres despite fluctuating weather conditions and the ongoing shortage of shelter beds and space. 

This week, the city closed its warming centres at 12 P.M on Dec. 28 after being active for less than a week. 

Outrage stems from the death of an unhoused individual sleeping outside who died on Christmas Day due to the inclement weather. The deceased individual is known as A.R, and their name is expected to be added to the Homeless Memorial outside the Church of the Holy Trinity in January. 

Opening of the centres were responses to the city’s extreme cold weather reaching minus-20, strong winds and up to 15 cm of snow. 

The city announced that its focus will shift to finding shelter spaces for its unhoused residents, but advocates are pointing out that individuals continue to be denied a bed each night due to over capacity. 

The city announced the closure of its warming centres on Dec.28 with the extreme cold alert ending. Photo courtesy of the City of Toronto Twitter account.

Advocates criticizing the warming centre closures include the Shelter and Housing Justice Network and Rafi Aaron, spokesperson for the Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness. 

They tweeted out this week asking the city what supply is even available, and that the death of AR was preventable if efficient winter prep for the unhoused was completed. 

City data released in August by the Shelter Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) shows that on average that more than 40 people were turned away from shelters nightly. 

It's a trend that Toronto's winter plan hopes to address in the new year, which included the warming centres initiative.

Prior to the Dec. 22 winter storm, three warming centres were open prior to December 22 during the city's first severe snow storm. 

The three centres are located at the Scarborough Civic Centre,  Metro Hall in the downtown core and Mitchell Field Community Centre in North York.  

At least 16 centres are outlined in the plan, as well as more beds added per shelter. 

CJRU contacted Rafi Aaron, the Shelter Housing and Justice Network, and the city’s Shelter Support and Housing Administration for comment. 

CJRU is awaiting a response. 

More details to come. 

Listen to CJRU's coverage of the warming centre closures: