Welcome Centre For Women And Families Opens Overnight Warming Centre

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Last updated: Tuesday December 19th, 2:45pm

The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families have opened a new overnight warming centre for women experiencing homelessness in addition to their current shelter services at their location at 500 Tuscarora.

This new program will enable those who may “sleeping rough” outdoors during cold winter months, or choosing not to attend traditional shelter programming, to have access to the Centre lobby area- with mats, blankets, and a breakfast provided. The warming centre will be operating nightly, without exception, from 10pm to 7am and function to ensure that no women in the community are left without overnight options if shelters are at capacity.

“By adding warming centre spaces, we’re ensuring that women in our community have access to supports during the overnight period when day programs are closed and many are finding shelters full or want other options for spaces to spend the coldest hours of the day”, said Welcome Centre Executive Director, Lady Laforet. “This shift to increased night-time supports means that as a community and an emergency response system, we are very focused on making sure our efforts to keep people alive in the coldest months are successful”.

Warming Centre clients will receive access to a lit common area, a mat and blanket, staff support and referrals, and a meal as they head out for the day and continue to engage with the city’s many homelessness response programs. Women and families needing access to the emergency shelter are invited to call 519-971-7595 24/7 to complete screening for eligibility and make arrangements for intake if shelter units are available.

Those interested in supporting the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families are invited to make donations. Financial donations support their Peer Engagement staff, women with lived experience of homelessness and substance use, along with program costs associated with their shelter programs. Financial donations can be made online via their website, www.welcomecentreshelter.com. New and unopened hygiene products, toiletries, and urgently needed hats/mittens can be dropped off at their location anytime.