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Simcoe County plans warming centres for this winter

October 28, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

With the colder weather approaching, Simcoe County plans to help unsheltered homeless individuals through the winter.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, warming centres originated from community-based collaboration and initiatives that received funding outside of the system of homelessness prevention services operated by the County of Simcoe.

In consideration of the reduced operating capacity in homeless shelter settings required by public health during the pandemic, Social Services Relief Funding was used to address warming needs for unsheltered individuals.

In May of this year, the County of Simcoe Council approved the allocation of $100,000 from the pandemic-specific Social Services Relief Fund to assist communities in Simcoe County respond to warming centre needs on a one-time basis during the winter of 2022-23.

Earlier in the month, on Oct. 11, County Council received a report on Winter Warming Programs for this coming season.

Two proposals were received as of the submission deadline Aug. 11, 2022. These included proposals for warming centres in the City of Barrie and the City of Orillia.

There were no submissions received for warming centre operations in Alliston, Collingwood, or Midland. Shelter operators in these communities enhanced their services to address warming needs within their operations.

In consideration of the anticipated increase in demand for shelter services this year, County staff is actively engaged with funded shelter operators, including Alliston, to identify funding requirements to support warming centre operations.

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