Region announces opening date for overnight warming spaces

Ensuring unhoused individuals have a warm place to stay when the temperature falls is a key component of the Region of Waterloo’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

As part of that plan, the Region has announced when its two overnight emergency shelters will open for the season.

It’s November 1.

In Kitchener, the warming centre is located a 298 Lawrence Ave. and is being operated by Thresholds Homes and Supports.

The warming centre in Cambridge can be found at 6 Cambridge St. and it’s being run by Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services.

 Ryan Pettiepiere, Director of Housing Services with the Region, explained to 570 NewsRadio how the sites were selected.

“As a community we have been able to look at, review, multiple sites but given the central location of both of theses. Given the willingness and ability of partners to step-up. From Threshold and Porchlight, the ability to operate those well. All those elements came together to determine where these things would be located this year.”

Pettiepiere said the two sites combined have between 60 and 70 spaces and this is the plan for this winter to serve the unhoused community, including those living in encampments, like 100 Victoria St.

“These two sites are meant to serve everybody that needs to get out of the cold this winter. They’re not created to serve one specific encampment location but are intended to provide enough capacity in the system for anyone who wants to get out of the weather.”

The Cambridge shelter is intended to accommodate cis or trans men. The Kitchener location also supports primarily those that identify as male but arrangements can be made to accommodate women as well.

But, Pettiepiere did say that the women’s shelter, currently being built in the former YW-Kitchener Waterloo building on Frederick St. in Kitchener, is expected to open in late Nov. or early Dec.

He says no matter what shelter people need to use, when they’re there, they’ll be treated with respect and dignity.

“What people can expect when attending one of these sites would be some kindness and some compassion. They’ll be met by agencies that are well versed in supporting the population.”