Community warming room to reopen
By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland County has announce that, again this winter, an overnight warming room will be available for residents in need, offering shelter from the cold, access to washrooms and light refreshments.
Located at St. Peter's Anglican Church (240 College St., Cobourg), the warming room will open Dec. 13 in partnership with the county and Transition House shelter, open seven days a week from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through the end of March 2022.
Northumberland Director of Community Services Lisa Horne described the warming room as “a winter relief measure where residents in need can access a safe space to keep warm during the night.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for accessible services that protect the health and well-being of unsheltered residents. Together, community partners are increasing capacity within Northumberland’s homelessness system as part of efforts to ensure adaptive, responsive services for those in need.”
Funding for this initiative comes from Social Services Relief Funding announced by the provincial government to enhance social services during COVID-19. Delivering important flexibility to create local solutions that address local needs, this funding is supporting a range of homelessness-prevention measures in Northumberland that reinforce a coordinated response.
“Community partners continue to work together to strengthen coordinated access to homelessness services,” Transition House Shelter Executive Director Anne Newman stated in the announcement.
“As with individuals seeking supports through the emergency shelter, visitors to the warming room will have access to centralized diversion services – intervention designed to prevent unsheltered homelessness by helping people to identify alternate housing arrangements as quickly as possible.
“The overnight warming room will be an important extension of existing supports and resources for at-risk individuals in our community,” Newman said.
The announcement included a statement from St. Peter's representatives, saying, “Caring for others and walking next to people on their journey are foundational acts for a cohesive community. We are pleased to be partnering in the delivery of this important service for our community’s vulnerable residents.”
For more information about resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Northumberland, visit Northumberland.ca/ HousingAndShelter.
