Schreiner repeats call for province to step in as shelter system collapses

February 7, 2022

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner made the following statement on the crisis in shelters in Toronto and across Ontario:

“The shelter system in Toronto and Ontario is collapsing during a frigid winter, while Doug Ford fails to take any action.

In the past 10 days alone, three unhoused Ontarians have died from extreme cold in Toronto. It’s a tragedy that could have been avoided with the necessary emergency and long-term investments in housing.

The shelter system was already under stress prior to COVID-19, and the pandemic has made the situation even worse. Outbreaks are putting further strain on a system that was already bursting at the seams. Shelters and warming centres are at capacity. And the result is tragic.

Ontario Greens are calling for emergency and long-term investments, including:

Immediate delivery of N95-quality masks and rapid tests to shelters
Increased capacity at isolation centres and warming centres
Indoor air quality improvements in shelters and mobile vaccination sites at shelters
Uploading a minimum of 50% of shelter costs to the province
Investments in 100,000 affordable rental homes and 60,000 permanent supportive housing units”

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