The City is looking at opening up more warming centres following repeated calls from social workers for more places for the homeless to remain warm in South Etobicoke.

The move comes as City officials plan to build an 80-bed shelter for the homeless on Third Street which has been met with mixed feelings in the community.

A drop-in meeting to discuss the Third Street shelter will take place on February 10, at Humber College Building G, at 17 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. It runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

City staff have launched a study into warming centres and winter respite sites in a bid to open up more beds or warming spaces for the homeless.

An audit was conducted by Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS) into our winter warming centres and respite sites and the findings will be considered by City Council on February 12.

The audit calls for data to determine how many winter program spaces are needed, and how many people are turned away every night, directed elsewhere, or leave without accessing a bed or warm space.

City officials also want to know how many people are able to stay inside a site to keep warm but are not able to access a bed.

The study calls for a review of the procedure involved in deactivation of warming centres and respites.

Workers have complained that homeless people in South Etobicoke have to travel downtown to find a bed or place to warm up due to a lack of facilities.

The TSSS is looking at ways to maximize the beds made available by the winter respite sites, warming centres, and surge sites during the cold weather.

City agencies have been asked to be on the lookout for possible sites for warming centres or respites.

“People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to illness and injury as a result of exposure to cold temperatures,” the audit warns.

The audit calls for TSSS to and secure temporary sites and come up with a contingency plan as to where to send people when shelters are filled.