An alert is called when Environment Canada:
- predicts a temperature of -15 degrees Celsius or lower, without wind chill
- issues a wind chill warning for outdoor activity for people in the Toronto area, and/or
- predicts extreme weather conditions, such as a blizzard, ice storm or sudden drops in temperature.
Additional cold weather services triggered by an Extreme Cold Weather Alert include:
- Street outreach and transportation services are increased. Throughout the day there is a minimum of one 1 SUV on the road, and a minimum of three teams patrolling by foot. In the evening there are two SUVs and a minimum of one foot patrol. Overnight, there are two SUVs on the road. Focus is on informing clients about the danger of weather conditions and transporting clients to indoor locations.
- More transit tokens for those using drop-ins are provided, to allow homeless people to reach shelters.
- Shelters are directed to relax any service restrictions they may have.
- Contact is made with more than 100 organizations and agencies that work with homeless people throughout the city, in order to ensure they can adequately prepare and respond to increased demand for services.
- 171 additional shelter spaces are added.
For information: http://www.toronto.ca/housing/extremecold.htm
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