City doubles free AC units for vulnerable residents
Toronto expanded its air conditioner assistance program to 1,500 units this summer, clearing the waitlist for seniors, families with young children, and pregnant people.
Toronto is clearing its waitlist for free air conditioning units this summer, with the city doubling its initial commitment to provide 1,500 portable AC units to vulnerable residents.
The expanded program comes as the city faced 29 extreme heat warnings last year—nearly double 2024's count. Mayor Olivia Chow announced the increase in a recent Instagram post, noting that "everyone who applied and qualified for a free AC is getting one."
Eligible residents include seniors with heat-related health needs, families with young children, and pregnant individuals. For households that can't afford to spend hundreds on a portable unit, the assistance is a real lifeline during scorching summers.
The timing aligns with a new tenant-protection rule taking effect June 1: apartment buildings without in-unit air conditioning must now keep common spaces like lobbies and hallways at 26°C or cooler until September 30. Toronto Public Health warns that extreme heat can cause dizziness, nausea, headache, and loss of consciousness, especially for seniors and young children.
The city has also ramped up its broader Heat Relief Strategy. As of mid-May, 500 cool spaces opened across the city and will stay open even on days without official heat warnings. City-operated public pools won't open until June 20, but community centers and libraries are already available for residents seeking refuge from the heat.