The Connection Centre at Paul’s Anglican Church in Stratford will get extra hours to support the area homeless population.
City council reviewed the ‘Not One More Night’ Winter Warming Solutions report, which recommended extending the Centre hours from noon to 5 pm Monday to Friday, to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., seven days a week, for six months in the colder seasons.
According to the report, the anticipated cost of this change would be $350,000.
Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth CEO Catherine Hardman said when putting together the budget, it was for a six-month-period running from November to April.
“With the timing, we would not be able to open come November, because CMHA doesn’t have any capacity to have other staff until we hire new staff,” said Hardman.
“We’re probably looking at opening at the earliest in December, and the budget would be prorated by the number of months we’re open. If we end up being only open for four months, it would end up being $232,000.”
The city would fund extra hours while United Way Perth-Huron will still fund the centre itself.
A partnership between them, the City, and United Way Perth-Huron is supporting the overall Connection Centre, with the warming centre to be operated by CMHA Huron Perth.
During the day the centre provides legal services, nurse practitioners, paramedics, health services and housing staff, along with laundry services and showers.
“There wouldn’t be service overnight. We would have food available, coffee, tea, but there wouldn’t be services necessarily other than the services that the CMHA staff would offer like support, connections to other services, and housing searches,” said Hardman.
“What’s being proposed for staffing is that we would have two CMHA staff there and one security guard. This would allow for security overnight, for staff to take a break if needed, to deal with any issues and be able to support each other.”
Hardman said while the centre will provide a warm spot for people, give them something to eat, connect with others, and get support, there won’t be any beds.
She described the change as a temporary solution to support people in the winter until a permanent solution comes.
Council voted unanimously to support the Connection Centre proposal.
The next step is to hire staff for extra hours, with new hours starting mid-December.
