A warming centre operating in the immediate shadow of Toronto City Hall has become a source of intense distress for local residents, who describe the area as feeling like a "war zone" due to rampant open drug use, violence, and frequent disturbances.
Residents Describe a 'War Zone' on Their Doorstep
The small two-storey building at 81 Elizabeth Street sits directly across from the stairs to Nathan Phillips Square. While officially a seasonal warming centre, not a year-round shelter, its impact on the neighbourhood has been severe and constant, according to long-time residents like Sherry Robertson.
"I don't go out after 5 now. This is a beautiful, lovely, sleepy little street, and it's completely like a war zone now," Robertson told the Toronto Sun. She described regular "block parties" in the adjacent parkette that involve open drug use and petty theft, with noise carrying late into the night.
The situation escalated recently when a municipal sidewalk trash bin outside a nearby condo was set on fire. Toronto Police have confirmed they are investigating the January 2026 incident as an arson, and that probe remains active.
FOI Requests Reveal History of Overdoses and Violence
Through freedom-of-information requests, Robertson obtained dozens of incident reports logged in the city's Shelter Management Information System for the site. The reports, dating from November 2023 to March 2025, detail numerous medical events.
More alarmingly, they include 30 suspected drug overdoses and 19 violent incidents, such as assaults or threats. One heavily redacted report appears connected to the February 2024 killing of Gregory Lawrie at the centre. Taylor Harker pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the unprovoked attack in December 2024.
Robertson shared that her condo building has been forced to pay for extra security and repairs following break-ins and vandalism she links to the centre's presence. A community Facebook group is filled with cellphone videos of emergency responses and nightly disturbances.
"It's traumatizing to me when I walk down the street," Robertson said, recounting being confronted by a man "violently kung fu fighting by himself" who told her to get off the sidewalk. "It stays with you, and it's happened to so many residents that have been chased, have been attacked, have been threatened with death."
City Response and Community Frustration
In a statement, the City of Toronto said there are "no current plans" to convert the warming centre into a full-year respite site. The centre, operated by Dixon Hall, is listed as pet-friendly with showers and a capacity for 75 people. It activates when temperatures are expected to reach -5 C or during winter weather warnings.
The city claims to have made adjustments, including reducing the number of spaces, hiring four security guards, and deploying "neighbourhood response teams" to patrol the area. These teams are staffed by employees of municipal contractor One Community Solutions, a firm already under scrutiny for alleged late payments to staff.
Despite these measures, Robertson said promises that the centre would have "no impact on the community" have been broken. She also expressed frustration with local political representation, stating that Ward 10 Councillor Ausma Malik has not responded to her emails. Councillor Malik did not respond to a request for comment from the Sun.
The city's approach includes harm reduction. A 2023 report from the city's shelter leadership indicated that 91% of stakeholders surveyed believed it was "very important" for warming centres to offer harm reduction supports and services.
As the warming centre continues to operate just steps from the seat of municipal power, the stark contrast between civic policy and its real-world impact on a residential community remains a point of intense conflict and concern for those who call Elizabeth Street home.
