As more and more intense heat waves hit Toronto, the unequal health impacts of climate change are becoming more urgent. While many residents can cool off indoors, others, especially those experiencing homelessness, face dangerous conditions without access to safe, cool spaces.
Hot weather affects everyone, but not everyone faces the same risks.
To protect the health and well-being of all Torontonians, both immediate and long-term heat relief strategies that meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity are urgently needed.
Over the last several decades, Toronto has seen a steady rise in the number of extremely hot days. By 2040, the city could experience up to 40 days each year with humidex values over 40°C. This is largely due to the urban heat island effect. Caused by dense infrastructure and minimal green space, this makes cities hotter than surrounding areas, especially “under-natured” neighbourhoods lacking tree cover and cooling infrastructure.
People living outside or in temporary encampments are especially exposed to these conditions during a heat wave. Without consistent access to water, rest or shade, they face much higher risks of heat-related health issues. Research shows that individuals who are older, have pre-existing medical conditions, or are navigating substance use and mental health challenges face significantly elevated health risks during heat events, leading to preventable hospitalizations and deaths.
Safe, accessible cooling spaces are essential – particularly for those who lack stable housing.
As part of their heat relief strategy, the City of Toronto has designated a network of more than 500 facilities, such as libraries, community centres and public pools, to serve as informal cooling spaces. Street outreach services are also expanded during heat alerts.
Cooling centres are a widely applied strategy for managing extreme heat, and many jurisdictions work with existing infrastructure to expand options for cooling spaces. However, while there have not been publicly accessible evaluations of Toronto’s heat relief network of cooling sites, frontline workers raise concerns that they may lack the staffing, resources or accessibility required to meet the needs of vulnerable groups. In addition, people experiencing homelessness often face stigma and are made to feel unwelcome in these spaces, creating additional barriers to access. These concerns are reflected in current evidence suggesting that further work is needed to improve the use and accessibility of cooling centres.
While the City plans to review and address gaps in its heat relief strategy – including reopening 24/7 cooling centres – this process is not expected until the fall.
To keep everyone safe this summer and meet the urgent need, it is vital that Toronto ensures existing cooling spaces are accessible, well-resourced and designed to support the health and social needs of marginalized communities. Existing guidance highlights the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral emergency approach to implementing cooling centres. This includes clear communication about heat risks and supports, access to transportation to get to the centre, and the distribution of essential cooling supplies like water bottles and ice packs.
In addition to emergency responses, addressing heat risks should involve prevention-oriented strategies to reduce climate vulnerabilities and build resilience. For instance, access to safe, stable and climate-resilient housing has been argued to be an effective protection against extreme heat. Investing in housing-first and supportive models is a promising cost-effective intervention. Resilient infrastructure is also critical, including retrofitting community housing with insulation, ventilation and air conditioning, in addition to expanding green spaces and tree cover in heat-vulnerable areas. Experts note these efforts require coordinated action across sectors and should involve people with lived experience of homelessness to ensure solutions are practical, effective and grounded in lived realities.
Extreme heat is quickly becoming one of Toronto’s most pressing public health challenges, and it does not affect everyone equally.
A climate-resilient Toronto must prioritize equity – focusing on the people facing heightened risks – to protect lives now, while also investing in housing, infrastructure and inclusive planning to ensure the most vulnerable are not left behind.