50 COVID-19 outbreaks in Toronto's homeless shelter system, data says
As temperatures dip, Toronto's homeless people find themselves facing an awful choice: stay outside and freeze, or go inside and risk catching COVID-19, advocates say.
Outside, wind chill values dropped to near -30 C, as the City of Toronto issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert.
But inside, city figures show another danger: the Omicron variant speeding through shelters. There are 50 outbreaks across the shelter system — more than half of all shelters — and there were 401 COVID-19 cases in those outbreaks, and one death, as of Friday.
That’s up from 48 outbreaks a few days ago, as the pandemic piles on to many other challenges homeless people face. The situation was predictable, said one advocate, who said the city’s shelter system should have been more prepared.
“We knew that COVID-19 was going to be coming. We knew that winter was coming. It’s not like any of this should have been a surprise,” said Lorraine Lam, an outreach worker with Sanctuary Toronto.
The City of Toronto said in a statement that it had opened up 26 temporary sites, four warming centres and two respite centres. It said it’s using more than 440 HEPA filters and says it’s on track to provide more than 310,000 N95 masks to people using the system — enough for two weeks.
The shelter system is not the only public service under strain from a surge of COVID-19 — ambulances, public transit, and the hospitals themselves have all been affected.
On Saturday, Engage and Change’s Project Winter Survival shipped out some 3000 survival kits for distribution to those in need.
The kits contain 27 items including hand warmers, sleeping bags, and other items designed to help people navigate extreme cold.
“The harsh elements make it much more challenging for the people out there who don’t have homes and are suffering,” said Staff Sgt. John Stockfish, a Toronto Police officer volunteering his time helping move the 3000 bags into cars, destined to arrive at more than 200 agencies.
Project Winter Survival has been going on for more than two decades — something that its organizers actually wish didn’t happen at all.
“Every year I say this. We don’t want to do this. The solution is long-term housing and supportive services. But we will be here as long as there’s a problem,” said organizer Jody Steinhauer.
Steinhauer estimated there are more than 10,000 homeless people in Toronto. The last homeless count, finished before the pandemic began, counted some 7300 people living inside support services and outside — but there were about 7400 people sleeping in the system as of earlier this week.
The surge is likely due to many people who live outside choosing to avoid the cold — but Tracy Murdoch of Woodgreen Community Services said she is seeing an across the board increase as well.
“I have not seen the homelessness at this rate since the 1980s. People are overdosing. People are dying,” she said.
Scott Mills, a retired Toronto Police officer turned advocate with Invisible People, said he wants people to change the way they understand homelessness, and to find compassion this winter.
“What can we do? Do something little. If you see someone homeless on the street, say hi. Give them some hope,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson Airport gold heist: police
Police say another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.