Emergency Housing in Toronto Tonight: Shelters, Intake and What to Do
If you need emergency housing in Toronto tonight, start with one phone call. Call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766 (toll-free 1-877-338-3398), 24/7. Central Intake is the City's access point for shelter placements: intake finds a bed that fits instead of sending you to a shelter that is full. Do not travel to a shelter address without a referral. If life is in danger, call 9-1-1.
Call first - tonight
Call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766. Central Intake is available 24/7 and is the required access point for Toronto shelter placements, according to a City of Toronto directive dated October 7, 2026. Tell intake who needs shelter, including children, health or accessibility needs, and pets or service animals. Intake will match you to an available bed and tell you where to go and how to get there. If you are outside and need help reaching a shelter, ask about Street Outreach Services at 311 or 416-392-2489. If you cannot reach Central Intake, call 2-1-1 or go to a City drop-in and ask staff to connect you. Call early: beds fill during the day.
Call first - tonight
416-338-4766 - Toronto Central Intake for emergency shelter, 24/7. Toll-free: 1-877-338-3398. Source: City of Toronto Homeless Help sidebar.
311 - City of Toronto services, including shelter intake and Street Outreach (also 416-392-2489).
2-1-1 - Province-wide information on shelters, drop-ins and food banks, 24/7.
9-1-1 - Life-threatening emergency.
If you are fleeing violence, do not wait for shelter intake. Call the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 (24/7), or tell Central Intake you need a violence-against-women shelter.
Who goes where tonight
Toronto's shelter system has separate streams for single adults, families, youth and people fleeing violence. Central Intake sorts you into the right stream.
| Who you are | What happens tonight | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult | Central Intake refers you to an available adult bed that fits your health and accessibility needs. | Central Intake 416-338-4766, or 311 |
| Family with children | Family placements go through the family intake stream. Intake refers you to a family shelter or another placement. There is no walk-in family shelter address: do not travel without a referral. | Central Intake 416-338-4766; Central Family Intake 416-397-5637 |
| Youth | Youth shelters are a separate stream. Tell Central Intake your age and ask for the youth stream, or call 2-1-1. | Central Intake 416-338-4766, or 2-1-1 |
| Fleeing violence | Violence-against-women shelters keep addresses confidential. Staff arrange safe entry by phone, or through Central Intake. | Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511; Central Intake 416-338-4766 |
| Outside with nowhere to go | Street Outreach teams can connect you with shelter, transport and supplies, and in extreme cold, transport to a warming or respite space. | Street Outreach 311 or 416-392-2489 |
Find a shelter near you in Ontario
Use the EmergencyHousing.CA shelter finder to search by location or city, or search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory.
What to do tonight, in order
- Call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766. Say who needs shelter, including children, youth, pets and accessibility needs. Intake refers you to an available bed and tells you how to get there.
- If you are a family, say so on the call. Intake will refer you to a family shelter or another placement. Do not go to a shelter address without a referral.
- If you are fleeing violence, call the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511, or tell Central Intake you need a confidential shelter. Do not go to a published address: these shelter locations are confidential.
- If you are outside, call Street Outreach at 311 or 416-392-2489 for supplies, shelter and transport.
- If every shelter is full, stay in contact with Central Intake. Ask about respite and warming spaces and transport to shelter. In extreme cold, call 311 for transport or 9-1-1 in a medical emergency.
- After night one, start the longer plan: apply for rent-geared-to-income housing (see RGI housing in Toronto) and ask your shelter case manager about the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit.
What to bring
Bring ID if you have it, medication, phone and charger, and a change of clothes. Lack of ID is not a reason to stay outside. If you have a pet, tell intake before you travel: most shelters do not accept pets except service animals.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call Central Intake before going to a shelter?
Yes, call first. Toronto shelter placements go through Central Intake at 416-338-4766, 24/7. Intake matches you to a bed that fits instead of sending you to a shelter that is full.
What if I am a family with children?
Tell Central Intake you are a family. Intake will refer you to a family shelter or another placement through the family intake stream. Do not travel to a shelter address without a referral.
What should I bring?
Identification if you have it, medication, phone and charger, and a change of clothes. Lack of ID is not a reason to stay outside: tell intake and shelter staff.
Your next step
Call 311 or Central Intake at 416-338-4766 now and ask for a shelter bed tonight. Then use the shelter finder and read RGI housing in Toronto.