Toronto launched a pilot program to provide free portable air conditioners for low-income seniors. More than 380 units have been delivered since the program's initiation in May. The initiative is backed by a $200,000 budget allocation and aims to assist 500 seniors, with units distributed through a lottery due to overwhelming demand. Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the need for further measures, highlighting the ongoing threat of heat waves to vulnerable populations. She is considering mandates for landlords to install air conditioners in apartments as additional support during extreme weather conditions.
Toronto's pilot program aims to provide free portable air conditioners to low-income seniors, addressing heat-related health risks that have caused deaths in past years.
Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledges that while the pilot program is a positive step, it is "nowhere near enough" to address the heat crisis facing vulnerable seniors.
The program has delivered over 380 air conditioner units so far, utilizing a lottery system due to high demand, with more than 1,400 applicants vying for assistance.
Chow suggests the possibility of mandating landlords to install air conditioners in all apartments to further protect residents from extreme heat, beyond the pilot initiative.
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