City of Peterborough Closes Temporary Emergency Shelter

The City of Peterborough closed its temporary emergency shelter that had 30 beds and was operated by Brock Mission on Friday morning.

There are 127 beds in the City’s emergency shelter network plus the Trinity Community Centre overnight program, which includes Brock Mission, Cameron House, YES emergency shelter for youth and families, and Trinity. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The shelter had opened on Monday and operated from 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. daily during that period. Meant as a temporary, short-term use, it, offered 30 beds nightly

Two people used the temporary shelter on Tuesday night and five people on Wednesday night as reported by the City.

The emergency shelter was opened to provide additional beds in the City’s shelter network.

Those experiencing homelessness who contacted emergency shelters or Social Services to access shelter beds were referred to the temporary shelter starting Monday if beds were unavailable in the regular shelter network.

The City recognized an identified need for shelter beds at this time.

The City arranged to temporarily provide the additional 30 shelter beds at the Morrow Building over five days within the approved homelessness services budget. Providing the temporary shelter bed increase was dependent on the ability to provide the necessary shelter staffing to operate the service over the defined period.

City Council did not support a motion to open a new temporary homeless shelter last month. The motion considered by Council on Feb. 3 would have directed the opening of new temporary shelter spaces for the winter months, which would have been for approximately seven weeks, by increasing the homelessness services budget by $150,000.

They continue to add that opening a temporary shelter for an approximately seven-week period was potentially not possible, as arranging for specialized shelter staffing and other logistics for the service for that amount of time may not have been possible. Council did not support that direction.

They explain that exceeding the Council-approved budget, going beyond staff’s delegated authority for procuring services, or substantially changing service levels would require Council approval. A temporary increase to the shelter network over a five-day period that can be accommodated within the Council-approved homelessness services budget does not exceed that threshold.

A report on the Emergency Winter Response Plan, which was approved by Council in 2023, is anticipated to be presented to Council in the summer.

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One Roof Community Centre Extends Service Hours Feb. 23 to 25 Due to Weather Forecast

One Roof Community Centre is extending its hours of service to 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning Thursday until Saturday, Feb. 25 due to cold temperatures and a winter storm in the forecast for the area.

file photo.

One Roof Community Centre, which provides warming room services on behalf of the City and County of Peterborough, is located at 99 Brock St. A meal is provided between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. A full description of meals and other services that One Roof provides is online.

Information about how to protect yourself from extreme cold is available on the Peterborough Public Health website.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter. If shelter capacity is full, temporary alternative accommodations for overnight stays may be made available. Please contact the shelters first for space:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families (705-748-3851), 196 Brock St.

• Brock Mission Men’s Shelter (705-748-4766), 217 Murray St.

• Cameron House Women’s Shelter (705-748-4766) – 738 Chemong Rd.

• Overflow Shelter at 210 Wolfe St. (705-748-4766 – press 0 for Overflow Shelter)

Emergency After Hours Services related to emergency shelter are available through the Social Services by calling 705-926-0096. The Peterborough Social Services website has full details.

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United Way Delivering “Day of Caring” Donations For Students and Shelters

Local shelters and students will receive more than 100 kits each donated by the community and collected by United Way’s “Day of Caring” announced on Wednesday.

School supplies such as backpacks, pencil crayons, markers, notebooks, paper and more were school supply items donated to the United Way. Photo Courtesy of United Way.

More than 120 local residents donated 275 kits worth of items (135 for local shelters and 139 for students) at the United Way office in downtown Peterborough last Wednesday. Brant Office Supply contributed more than 200 facemasks to be included in all kits. 

Personal hygiene and care product kits are for the local shelters. Backpacks filled with school supplies are for the students of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board as part of the United Way’s “Backpacks For Kids” program.

The community collection drive was a departure from past “Day of Caring” events that had volunteers working on local projects and instead focused on meeting the immediate needs of those in our community who are financially insecure, precariously housed or homeless. 

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, body wash, sanitizer, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, bandages and more were in the personal care kits. Photo Courtesy of United Way.

Jim Russell, district C.E.O. was overcome with pride at being part of such a generous and giving community.

“To hear stories from so many people as to what inspired them to give to this initiative really served to bring home to me that we are lucky to live, work and play in such an empathetic and caring community,” he said. “One young girl heard the call to action on the news and spent her allowance to create a kit… … She said that when she first came to Peterborough, she received a backpack through her school and will never forget how proud and lucky that made her feel so was excited for the chance to pay it forward.”

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Does Peterborough Have Enough Shelter For The Homeless?

It's freezing cold out. And anti-poverty activists are concerned there is not adequate shelter in the Patch for those in need. And that someone could freeze to death.

[chextvDOTcom; The Peterborough Examiner]

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"The Wonderful Ones" Who Rallied Behind YWCA

Local YWCA executive director Lynn Zimmer calls them "the wonderful ones" (see video above)—those who rallied behind YWCA Crossroads Safe Haven Campaign so that the organization's dream of constructing a brand new shelter for women and children could come true.
 
During a recent Community Thank You Celebration held at Showplace, Zimmer veered from her notes in her speech to express how much each and every gift meant to the campaign and what a difference those gifts will continue to make for many years to come.
 
"Capital campaigns are designed to attract very large donations and recognize those donations by naming rooms and buildings in honour of those who have given very large gifts," she says. "Yet we are always aware that every gift to the Crossroads Safe Haven Campaign was heartfelt and many donors of smaller amounts have had to sacrifice more to give that gift than perhaps someone else who was able to give more. Everyone who gives to Crossroads is giving a gift of safety and healing. Every donor brings passion and compassion to their giving. Every gift is important and represents the love and caring of the people in our community."

—Ann Douglas, PtboCanada contributor

[Photos of new YWCA shelter; Domestic violence statistics; YWCA Wonderful Ones]

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