The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and warming centre operating partner the Crisis Centre are taking a proactive approach when it comes to attempting to forge stronger relationships and keeping the lines of communication open with its neighbours in the area surrounding Northern Pines.
The warming centre — or as DNSSAB refers to it, the Cold Weather Housing Response Program — is set to open from the Northern Pines location on Chippewa Street West, directly across from Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School from Nov. 1 to April 30, 2025. The program will offer 24-hour services, with daytime operations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and nighttime services from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Stacey Cyopeck, the director of housing services said at the most recent DNSSAB Board meeting, "The Cold Weather Housing Response Program will be located in Northern Pines Phase 3, the low-barrier shelter will be moved in there for the winter as well, so that the entire site is providing those 24-hour services. Phase 3 of Northern Pines has a capacity overnight for 24 individuals, and during the day, up to 34."
Cyopeck shared that meetings were held in June with the nearby secondary school's representatives and parent council to address safety and foot traffic concerns, with commitments to mitigate these issues. And, an open house was recently held for the neighbouring properties near Northern Pines, at which staff answered questions about safety, washroom facility availability, and long-term planning.
See related: Low Barrier Shelter officials support its controversial location
"DNSSAB and Crisis Centre staff heard concerns raised around safe consumption, safety, and foot traffic, and committed to mitigating those concerns at that site," Cyopeck reported to the Board. "And then, earlier this month, an open house was held for property owners within a 200-metre radius of Northern Pines. There were staff and residents there from both Barclay House and Castle Arms, as well as staff from the Garderie Soleil daycare and Les Compagnons de francs loisirs, and the Franco-Nord school board.
"Crisis Centre staff answered several questions that focused on safety, washroom facility availability, as well as the long-term planning for the site."
Board Chair Mark King thanked Cyopeck for her report and "for taking the time" to speak to the neighbourhood and get them involved. There's probably been good feedback."
PODCAST: King on homeless hub, warming centre and Chippewa
There have been numerous issues with, as King often calls it the "transient traffic" the Northern Pines site creates as individuals wait for access and travel back and forth toward the downtown core for various services.
See: School board's $611K in fences set to keep Chippewa secure
Over the summer, the Near North District School Board had a fence installed around Chippewa. In November 2023, when the fence project was announced, the school board confirmed clients of the low-barrier shelter had caused incidents on Chippewa school grounds. The clients have been prone to wandering onto school property. There have been instances of people staying out of the weather in the school’s entrances while waiting for the shelter to open and drug paraphernalia found on school grounds.
After weighing its options, the DNSSAB approved the Northern Pines location as a temporary cold weather program in June. Factors influencing the decision included the use of the site as a cold weather program in the past, ease of access to the site and the availability of support services.
When the decision was announced to move the warming centre from its location last winter on Fraser Street, DNSSAB said the experienced staff from Crisis Centre North Bay would operate the temporary cold weather program, and provide housing supports, meals and security. The North Bay Regional Health Centre provides psychiatric support onsite. Community paramedics will also be on site regularly to help those with healthcare needs.
There were also concerns about the warming centre's placement at Northern Pines in late 2022. Chippewa school officials sent a newsletter home with students to reassure families of their safety: "While we cannot control what our neighbours do with their property, rest assured we will work together with Superintendent Gay Smylie and the Safe Schools Team to monitor the situation. The safety and security of the students, staff and school building are of the utmost importance to us."
“There are many people in our community who sadly do not have a place to call home. They will benefit from this program and the services we’ll be able to offer,” said King in announcing the warming centre decision. “We know that addressing homelessness takes all of us working together. We are pleased to partner with Crisis Centre North Bay, the Regional Health Centre and our community paramedics. We will continue to reach out to other community agencies to make as many services as possible available at the site.”
See also: A new homeless hub near downtown North Bay?
There is very little to report about the proposed homeless hub. DNSSAB, in partnership with the City of North Bay, Crisis Centre North Bay and other community partners is carefully examining the next step to addressing homelessness and the homelessness report recommendations by continuing to actively search for a location for a permanent integrated shelter and housing hub while also planning what services might be made available through the hub. The overall purpose of the hub would be to offer immediate support, shelter and food while helping individuals experiencing homelessness to find stable housing.
See: Will public consultation quiet 'homeless hub' hubbub?
The DNSSAB held a special board meeting on July 24 to gather input from the community but all of the discourse about the project is happening in closed-door meetings.
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