310 Division Street: Modernizing shelter services to address community need

No — 310 Division Street will offer roughly the same number of shelter spaces as available in Cobourg today.

Current shelter spaces in Cobourg include:

• 22 emergency shelter spaces at Transition House and 15 additional spaces through arrangements with motels as an overflow measure, for a total of 37 emergency shelter spaces.
• 20 drop-in Warming Hub spaces

Plans for 310 Division Street include approximately 35 emergency shelter spaces, and a warming/cooling centre. This aligns with recommendations from a third-party review, commissioned by the County in 2023, which recommended shifting to an updated facility with a minimum of 25 shelter spaces.

Use of illegal substances is not permitted at the shelter and will not be permitted at 310 Division Street.

'Low barrier' means improving access to shelter services by lowering barriers to entry such as:

• sobriety requirements
• Income requirements
• space for couples
• space for pets
• accessibility features

What is not permitted at the shelter?

• Violence/threats of violence
• Sexual harassment/sexual violence
• Theft/excessive damage to property
• Use/distribution of substances

Wraparound services refer to when a team of service providers and key figures in an individual's life come together to create and implement a plan of support. These services are designed to offer accessible and essential supports to meet the individual needs. Some of these services are offered by professionals, such as educators, mental health workers, employment counsellors, case coordinators, and health care providers, who work with people to help meet their goals.

For example, if an individual has mental health challenges, diabetes and no income, wraparound supports for this individual could include on-site services from Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services, medical support from Northumberland Community Paramedics, and financial assistance from Northumberland County Community & Social Services.

What measures are in place for wraparound supports when 310 Division Street becomes operational?

Council more than doubled investments in the homelessness system in 2023, with levels maintained in 2024, which enabled street outreach services to be expanded, so staff who support people experiencing homelessness and support community well-being are available.

The 310 Division Street shelter is anticipated to open in fall 2024. It will follow established shelter best-practices. Community partners that offer health, housing, social, mental health and addiction and life skills building programs will be engaged. Wraparound services at the site will be in place and the indoor environment allows for a full range of programming.

The County and Transition House both take security seriously. We will be working to mitigate any negative impacts to the community, and to keep people using the facility safe.

Transition House is committed to safety measures as a good neighbour, including:

• 24/7 on-site staff
• Installation of a security system
• Assessment of lighting and fencing on the property
• Engagement of professional security services on-site

It is important to remember: homelessness is a housing status - being homeless is not a crime nor does it mean people experiencing homelessness have or will commit crimes. Offering services to support people who are experiencing homelessness, people who are at risk of homelessness, or individuals who need help to live independently in the community does not mean crime will increase.

It is important not to discriminate against service users by assuming they are responsible for all issues in the community moving forward. If a service user is responsible, they will be held accountable for their actions, as any other member of the community would be held accountable.

The decision to relocate shelter services to 310 Division Street is rooted in the need for a more suitable facility. There is an opportunity for significant modernization and enhancement of services at the new location. These service enhancements will build on recommendations from the third-party review of our local shelter system, commissioned by County in 2023.

Northumberland County is also part of multiple province-wide and Canada-wide social service networks, which regularly share best practices. These networks include:

• Ontario Municipal Social Services Association
• Built for Zero Canada
• Canadian Housing Renewal Association
• Provincial Housing Strategy Steering Committee (Senior leadership from municipal service managers with responsibility for housing)

Knowledge-sharing at tables like these continues to inform provision of housing and homelessness services in Northumberland, including the modernization of shelter services at 310 Division Street.

The Town of Cobourg has determined that no such agreement is required.

According to a media release issued by the Town on August 1, 2024, "At the Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Special Council Meeting, Cobourg Municipal Council directed staff not to enter any formal agreement with Northumberland County regarding the management of the 310 Division Street shelter...(Cobourg Council determined that the Town's) Emergency Care Establishment Licensing By-law (which came into force and effect on Thursday, March 28, 2024) makes it unnecessary to have in place individual agreements with specific Emergency Care Establishment operators."

Service restrictions are applied as a last resort to address violation of significant shelter rules. In cases where an individual is facing service restrictions, staff will try to seek alternatives for the individual through diversion supports.

Diversion supports may include:

• Family reunification services: connecting individuals with family or friends willing to provide support by facilitating communication, assisting with travel, etc.
• Transportation assistance: helping to connect individuals with their support networks or access housing options in nearby communities.

Northumberland County and Transition House Shelter continue to engage with community partners to reinforce the emergency shelter system and provide necessary supports for people experiencing homelessness.

Shelteres serve people who are without housing who are unable to immediately resolve their homelessness. Some individuals are living in their car, in parks and forested areas, or couch surfing. People accessing a shelter are seeking emergency accommodations, and require support services to access long-term housing.

How does Transition House Shelter choose who can stay at this site?

Emergency shelter is for people who require a place to sleep and to work towards housing goals. Transition House follows a standardized intake process.

The human rights code prevents the County or the community from choosing who lives in the neighbourhood, however, there will be measures in place to keep staff, occupants and community safe.

310 Division Street will help address our community’s urgent need for homelessness solutions by providing approximately 35 shelter beds with wraparound supports. Wrap-around supports are services that meet the individual needs of those accessing the shelter. This can include, counselling, financial services, life skills programming.

The County has a mandate to help provide shelter and support for vulnerable populations. This site is an ideal location to support people experiencing homelessness because:

• It is centrally located close to transit, health care services and pharmacies, employment and counselling services, food options for groceries, and other general supports that are available to any member of the community.
• It is zoned to fit the intended use.
• It has a good foundation to improve quickly for occupancy:
  • Toilets, showers and hygiene-related requirements exist.
  • Allows for retrofitting to align with varied types of housing, such as temporary shelter and transitional housing.
  • Has a mix of multipurpose and living space that will allow for safe shelter and housing options with onsite services to support people in meeting their life stabilization goals.
• It offers space for people to sleep and space for services such as health, employment, and food security.

In the short term, 310 Division Street will help address our community’s immediate needs. Longer term, it has the potential to also offer transitional housing that supports people, creates a sense of belonging, and meets individual needs, offering a pathway out of homelessness.

This goal is relocation and enhancement of existing shelter services.

Services provided by Transition House Shelter at their 10 Chapel Street, Cobourg location will be relocated to this new property (310 Division Street in Cobourg) in 2024. Upon relocation, operations will conclude at 10 Chapel Street.

Why not keep operations going in the original location at 10 Chapel Street as well to increase the number of spaces available?

In 2023, the County commissioned a third-party review of our local shelter system to identify recommendations tailored to community need. The review recommended a minimum of 25 shelter spaces for adults, in addition to the creation of supportive and transitional housing spaces.

Approximately 35 emergency shelter spaces at 310 Division Street location will address immediate need and, over the longer-term, transitional housing accommodations and other services will create pathways out of homelessness.