The city of Toronto will issue an Extreme Cold Weather Alert when there is:

• An expected low temperature of -15 degrees without wind chill
• Environment Canada issues a warning for wind chill for outdoor activity
• In situation of very bad winter weather such as massive snow storms.

The alert is put out by the city's Hostel Services Unit in the conditions mentioned above. This type of weather is especially dangerours for homeless people sleeping outdoors.

When an Alert is issued, the city does the following

• Make extra shelter spaces available.
• Asks shelters to ease curfews and service restrictions
• Increases street outreach services to contact homeless people to advise them of the cold alert and services available.
• Several different orgranizations in the city provide transportation to homeless people trying to access services or a shelter. (The Canadian Red Cross, Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Na-Me-Res and Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre)
• TTC tickets are offered at through different agencies to help homeless people to reach a shelter.
• There is a Street Helpline (1-866-392-3777) that is Open 24 hours during an alert
• They add staff to take additional calls to assist the homeless
• Thet assist street outreach workers to find available shelter spaces
• The public can call them if you see a homeless person in need of help, They will initiate an outreach team to be sent out.

Extreme Cold Weather Alerts Issued for Winter 2007 / 2008

• Thursday, November 22, 2007