Belleville has a new warming centre to help keep the homeless warm on cold winter nights.
This week city council accepted the offer from Victoria Avenue Baptist Church of space for an overnight centre.
The city will handle security and janitorial services, but there will be no food or sleeping arrangements.
Council also decided to set aside $25,000 from a casino reserve as a budget for the centre.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk told council it is double the budget the city had for the warming centre at the library last year.
Fire Chief Mark MacDonald says the centre will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on nights when the temperatrue drops to -15 or -20 wind chill.
Councillor Paul Carr noted some people decide not to use facilities such as the city warming centre or the upcoming Grace Inn, which is scheduled to open December 2.
Carr said people have options so they can make their own choices.
The Grace Inn will provide overnight beds for the homeless.
