The move is on to line-up warming centres in Hastings County communities when the cold weather hits later this year.
The word will be going out to Belleville, Quinte West, and the communities in Hastings County that they should confirm an interest in such a centre by the end of this month.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Community and Human Services Committee also indicated it should provide confirmation of location of such a centre by June 30.
In her report to the committee, Director Suzanne Ritchie Raymond says the cost of the program would be $378,000.
It is covered through special funding.
These are some of the recommendations for the operation of the 2022-2023 program:
- Seasonal operational dates – December 15, 2022, to March 31, 2023
- Activation level – Budget is based on activation at minus 10 degrees Celsius. Changes to that activation level will be dependent on available funding and resources and approval by Committee and would require coordination amongst municipalities to ensure operating protocols remain consistent when they are within close proximity of each other (i.e. City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West)
- Interested municipalities must provide confirmation in writing of their interest in having a Warming Centre program in their community by April 30,2022 and confirm a location for the program and costs related to the location by June 30, 2022.
- Current supporting community organizations to be asked to formally confirm their interest in hosting and/or supporting the program to their municipality and Hastings County by April 30, 2022.
- Current operational model of security supports overnight would continue
- Current morning/daytime support from the Community Response team and community partners would continue
- Legal agreements with member municipalities and community organizations as well as insurance requirements should be in place by October 30,2022 to ensure that programming can be set up and communicated to the community in advance of the start date.
Hastings County CAO Jim Pine pointed out “It is important to get the security right” at each of the warming centres.
“It is of paramount concern…we’ll stay focussed on it if it is OK with the committee,” he added.
Ritchie Raymond notes the Belleville centre had an average of 38 visitors overnight, over 52 nights of operation.
The cost for Belleville was estimated in the range of $36,000 per year.
The Quinte West site had an average of 3.6 visitors nightly, over 57 nights of operation to date.
In Bancroft the program averages 4.2 visits per evening, over 58 nights.
The issue goes to Hastings County council for final approval later this month.
