The City of Toronto is moving ahead with a major infrastructure response to rising homelessness, highlighting the construction of new shelter sites and thousands of affordable homes as critical components of its long-term strategy.

New data released in the 2024 Street Needs Assessment — a federally required, city-wide survey of people experiencing homelessness — shows the number of unhoused individuals in Toronto has more than doubled since 2021. Conducted in October 2024 and finalized this spring, the survey estimates that roughly 15,400 people were homeless in the city last fall, up from about 7,300 in April 2021.

To address the crisis, the City plans to build up to 20 new shelter sites over the next decade. Designed to be smaller and more cost-effective than leased hotel shelters, the permanent locations are projected to save up to $33.6 million per site over 10 years. Seven sites have already been selected, with more to be announced later this year.