The City of Hamilton is extending some of the winter respite spaces for people experiencing homelessness into the fall.
In December, the city created more than 200 temporary spaces as part of an overall winter response, but funding for the initiative ran out March 31.
In a March 28 communication update, the city said in recognition of the continued need for service and ongoing capacity pressures within the homelessness serving system, some services which expanded capacity and were implemented through the Winter Response Strategy will be temporarily extended to Nov. 30.
The services which will be temporarily extended:
- 45 additional overnight warming spaces (serving women, trans- and non-binary people).
- 50 additional overnight warming spaces (serving men, trans- and non-binary people).
- 40 additional overnight drop-in spaces (serving women, trans- and non-binary people).
- 100 additional day-time drop-in spaces (all populations).
- 45 additional emergency shelter beds (serving men).
According to the communication update, it is anticipated that funding for this extension will be through existing provincial and federal funding sources first, then from housing division or corporate surplus. It says staff will return with a report outlining further details to a future council meeting.
The city’s winter strategy included several measures, in addition to increasing the available number of drop-in spaces, such as a warming bus.