Toronto’s homeless deaths last year were the highest since 2007 and activists warn the number is likely to climb even higher in 2013.

Some 34 deaths of people without homes were recorded in 2012, eight more than the previous year.

The number of names on The Toronto Homeless Memorial outside the downtown Church of the Holy Trinity next to the Eaton Centre, now stands at 697. It is expected to surpass 700 by the end of the month.

The memorial records the names of homeless people known to have died in the city since 1985, some listed only as “John Doe.”

This week, Doug Johnson-Hatlem, a street pastor with Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto who tracks homeless deaths, added 13 names to the Memorial following the release of shelter death records from the city’s Hostel Services department.

The city recorded a total of 18 deaths in 2012 — all of them male — to add to 16 other deaths that were investigated and recorded by the informal group that tracks names for the memorial.

Activists fear there will be even more homeless deaths in 2013 because of a 2.9 per cent cut to emergency shelter beds in the city budget.

“We think the cuts will affect homelessness substantially because they are taking approximately 100 beds out of the shelter system, which will translate into more people on the streets throughout the harsh winter,” Hatlem said.

Councillor Janet Davis, vice-chair of the city’s Community Development and Recreation Committee, expressed similar concerns.

“There is definitely a trend of increased homelessness, primarily among families,” said Davis. “We have not addressed and provided for sufficient affordable housing in the city of Toronto.”

The impact of the cuts on the new housing stabilization fund will also be felt in 2013, she said.

“We will have a housing crisis next budget,” she said. “It is a very worrisome situation.”

“I remember adding the 100th name, the 300th, the 500th and the 600th,” said Tanya Gulliver, co-founder of the memorial. “But it’s the single names that stand out for me.”

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The first homeless death of 2013, No. 697 on the memorial — Peter Gorecki — was recorded Jan. 8.

The worst year for homeless deaths recorded at the memorial was 2005, when 73 names were added.