Cold Alerts & Community Response

City of Hamilton - Municipal Law Enforcement
Hamilton’s Heat By-law No. 04-091 requires landlords to keep the air temperature of at least 20°C in all liveable spaces between September 1st to May 31st.  If someone’s rented unit is not being kept at this temperature, they may file a complaint unless the lack of heat is caused from the failure of a tenant to pay for the service which is part of their tenancy agreement.
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Phone: 905 546-2782 or after hours 905-546-2489

City of Hamilton - Dental Health Bus
They distribute seasonal supplies such as socks, hats, gloves, thermal mugs, and toiletries.  They also offer needle exchange and condoms for clients upon request.
Hours of operation: The Dental Health Bus has a regular schedule.  

Good Shepherd Centre Staying Home Program
The Staying Home Program provides eviction prevention supports and services to individual adult women, couples and families who are at imminent risk of homelessness.

Eligible women, couples and families will be connected with a Community Housing Worker and a Landlord Tenant Navigator. A wide variety of community based supports are available including, but not limited to:

• Advocacy aimed at promoting housing stability
• Support during the eviction process
• Help in resolving landlord/tenant issues including maintenance issues
• Shelter diversion
• Ongoing support

Phone: 289-919-0396

Hamilton offers a number of warm places in the community as drop-in during a cold alert. Please note that warm places vary by day and time. Use the map to search your nearest location, or the drop downs below for specific days.

Search for the nearest community warming place in your neighbourhood

Frostbite happens when skin and other tissues are damaged due to freezing. Frostbite usually occurs on fingers, toes, earlobes, nose or your face. 

Signs of frostbite or frostnip (the first stage of frostbite) include:

• White skin that has a “wooden feeling”
• Numbness in the affected area such as fingertips

If you see these signs, get inside to a warm place.

The risk of frostbite relates to temperature and wind on exposed skin. When the temperature is above -28°C, there is a low risk of frostbite.

Hypothermia is where your body’s core temperature drops below what is needed for normal body function. Normal body core temperature is around 37°C. 

Hypothermia affects muscle function and the ability to think clearly. Symptoms include stumbling, mumbling, fumbling and grumbling. 

Factors that can contribute to hypothermia include:

• Cold temperatures
• Clothes that do not fit properly
• Damp or wet clothing
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Insufficient food intake
• Alcohol intake
• Some medications

Most people can safely tolerate mild hypothermia, where the body temperature drops to 32° to 35°C. There is a 21% chance of death if you have moderate hypothermia, where the core body temperature is 29° to 32°C. A body core temperature of 28°C or less is severe hypothermia and death occurs within a short period.

It is possible to get hypothermia at temperatures warmer than -15°C. Hypothermia at higher temperatures is usually related to sports or accidents such as getting lost while hiking where there is not enough food or adequate overnight clothing.