Union Station became a winter refuge for homeless Torontonians as warming centres filled.

During a major snowstorm dozens of people took shelter inside Toronto's Union Station while official warming centres and shelters were at or beyond capacity; city staff said turn-away rates have improved but demand remains high.

During a major January snowstorm, people experiencing homelessness were observed sheltering inside Toronto's Union Station as the city's winter shelter network and warming centres reached or exceeded capacity. Transit spaces and other public facilities have been used as stopgap refuges while shelters expand beds and open contingency spaces in extreme cold. City officials told councillors they have seen some improvement in turn-away rates but acknowledged limits in matching beds to individual needs. What is known: - Dozens of people were reported sheltering in Union Station; one person interviewed estimated about 30–40 people regularly seek refuge there during severe cold. - The shelter system and warming centres were operating at or beyond capacity, with warming centres reporting occupancy around 103.3% and officials citing an average of about 39 people turned away per day. - City officials, including the head of the shelter department, said turn-away rates have declined compared with the previous year but that it may not always be possible to provide the right bed for every individual's needs. - Frontline agencies reported bringing more people into warming centres than the sites were originally set up to shelter and described the system as overwhelmed. Summary: The presence of people sheltering in a major transit hub reflects ongoing strain on Toronto's winter shelter and warming-centre capacity and shows that some residents are using public spaces as an unintended safety net. Undetermined at this time.