With autumn already here and winter fast approaching, Quinte West council has expressed their support for the Quinte West warming centre for the homeless.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, council heard a deputation from Reverend Issac Mundy, talking about the operations of the warming centre, the services it’s able to provide, and some of the challenges they’ve been facing.
During the previous winter season, 629 visits by 79 different people took place at the warming centre in Trenton United Church.
The warming centre isn’t a shelter, and doesn’t provide beds, meals or other services. The warming centre does provide a safe space during cold weather for those needing shelter to warm up, rather than be exposed to the cold and elements.
The centre is staffed by volunteers along with a paid security team to help keep the area safe and clean. The initiative is funded by provincial funds through Hastings County.
Reverend Mundy said one of the challenges they’ve faced is that there are nights with dangerous conditions that they haven’t been able to open, due to the centre only being funded from December 16 through March 31, and wants to expand availability to have the warming centre open from December 1 through March 31.
Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison expressed his support for the warming centre’s efforts to help those experiencing homelessness.
“It certainly isn’t easy. I don’t believe anyone chooses to be an addict,” said Mayor Harrison. “Thank you very much and I appreciate the work you do and you keep it up.”
After the delegation, a motion was tabled to support the efforts of the warming centre and to urge Hastings County to provide any additional funding required to have the centre open for the expanded time.
The motion passed unanimously.
