A group of local community agencies has organized a response for vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness during cold weather.
This winter plan was unveiled today by the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) and the Gathering Place.
The new cold weather program will be set up at three locations in the city.
The Gathering Place is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will extend hours during extreme cold weather days.
The Gathering Place will also be operating a cold weather program at the Northern Pines transitional housing location on Chippewa Street during the day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., starting the first week of January.
As well, the transit terminal on Oak Street offers another space available to anyone during the day from 8:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekends.
“The first is the low barrier shelter, which allows the folks who are there, it gives them the opportunity so they don’t have to walk around the streets when it is freezing cold and they are trying to find a place that is warm,” said Dennis Chippa, executive director of the Gathering Place.
“That is a long walk going from the low barrier shelter to our place. They will be taken care of and essentially don’t have to leave the site," added Chippa referring to the basement area of the transition housing location next door to the low barrier shelter.
“As far as the Gathering Place we usually get the overflow so we are just going to stay open and in between meals folks can stay warm.”
Chippa says the third location will be for those in the downtown area who need shelter and cannot make it to the other two locations. He notes that security will be increased at the bus terminal.
See related: That's a wrap for warming centre
DNSSAB officials say these day services are temporary until a longer-term solution can be found.
However, Chippa feels things are looking much better in the future relating to the warming centre issue.
With a new city council in place, Chiippa believes planning for the warming centre will no longer take place in October.
“We have an agreement with the city,” said Chippa.
“This is a series of one-year agreements which means the Gathering Place is running it next year as well. We are not sure where the location is going to be but as of the spring we will start looking for the location so we are not scrambling in October every year, it is going to be The Gathering Place and I think that is crucial for the community to be aware that we have signed an agreement. We will be the ones handling the warming centre from here on in.”
Last winter, the North Bay's only official warming centre was located at the old Health Unit building located on Commercial Street near downtown North Bay.
That impromptu warming centre gradually opened its doors in early February of 2022.
