The Gathering Place is the new Warming Centre but cots may not be permitted

After an exhaustive search that failed to produce results, the Gathering Place is now the new temporary location for the Warming Centre this winter.

It will continue to serve meals and will remain open to give shelter to the homeless on cold winter nights. 

But last Friday that plan took a direct hit.    

“We have been told by the building department in order to put cots down, we have to first go to an architect. They suggested we hire an engineer. They suggested we do an application for a potential build. We don’t have the money for that,” said Chippa.

The maximum number of cots would be 15, which is said to be more than enough to meet demand.

“If we are not allowed to have cots, we will have them sleep at tables. It is a horrible solution, but it is the only solution at this point that we can find until such time as it is solved between the city and us,” said Chippa at an afternoon news conference.

The Gathering Place renovated the building when it took over the space just over one year ago.

Chippa said they were also told chances were good they would have to apply for rezoning, which their own research disputes.

“We are zoned C-2 which we found out last night, and it is within the bylaw for us to have cots,” said Chippa.

“We are waiting for the building department to come in and tell us exactly what we need to do.”

He believes it all boils down to a communication problem.

“We don’t think the city is clear on what we actually want to do. All we want to do is move four of these tables into the kitchen and provide cots out here. (dining area).”

The former Fisher Street location was too small to meet the growing demand.

The search for a new location began in earnest this past summer.

Several agencies and churches were approached but to no avail.  

“I think some were unable, some were unwilling. I had some suggestions around city buildings that were actually denied. I’m going to be fair; we didn’t even get that off the ground. It was made very clear at the mayor’s roundtable that that was not an option,” said Chippa who was asked if this is a life or death situation.

“I think people are going to die in the snow. I’ve said that from the beginning. I think if we’re not open, people are going to freeze to death.”

City Councillor Mac Bain who is one of six council representatives and current interim chair on the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) attended the news conference.

“As a DNSSAB representative, I am happy we were able to give some funding to The Gathering Place so they can host and find a warming centre so it would be open this year. And we’re interested in having conversations for a multi-year approach.”

As a city councillor he was made aware of the challenges The Gathering Place is facing.

“I have now had an opportunity to have a personal conversation with Dennis (Chippa) regarding the challenges. He gave me a little bit of a scenario and timing of when things have happened,” said Bain.

“So I am, with his permission, going to reach out and chat with several individuals at several different levels inside City Hall to have a better understanding of the challenges that the Warming Centre is facing. And I hope to see a resolution quite shortly.”

Based on public feedback when it was first announced that the Warming Centre was on the move, Chippa says the community is quite concerned about what will happen to the homeless population this winter.

“It is frustrating in that this is the seventh winter we’ve run the Warming Centre and it is the seventh winter we’ve had a different type of frustration,” said Chippa.

“The community of North Bay gets this. The community of North Bay understands The Gathering Place. The community of North Bay understands the importance of the Warming Centre. So, when the community is interested and what seems to be a lot of foot-dragging on the part of some of the groups that we think should be getting together, it is frustrating.”

Chippa hopes to learn more from the city within the next few weeks.

“If the city approaches us and says, ‘Dennis can you run the Warming Centre for the next five years?’ then fine. Then come up with a plan. But this year to year are we open? Are we not going to, while we’re told housing is being built?  We know there are some long-term solutions. We know there is some medium-term solutions. What we’re saying is let’s get it done. The folks that are out there aren’t going anywhere.”