KITCHENER — A new emergency shelter that will welcome all genders, couples and pets will open in Kitchener this week.
The shelter opens Friday in the former Edith MacIntosh Child Care Centre on Stirling Avenue South and will be operated by The Working Centre, providing overnight shelter for up to 60 people from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., seven days a week.
This new inclusive shelter was created by the Region of Waterloo in response to feedback from people who have experienced homelessness.
“Listening and responding to the needs of those experiencing homelessness is vital,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “This new emergency shelter will support all gender identities, couples, and those with pets, keeping individuals together with their loved ones and connecting them with the supports they need.
“While we have more work to do, this new shelter is a step in the right direction.”
The spaces are needed.
This shelter will open as temporary ones at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and the YW in Kitchener are set to close near the end of this month.
The region also plans to evict people staying in an encampment on Victoria Street in Kitchener on June 30. That follows heavy equipment being brought in by the region to clear a camp on Charles Street in November.
Some people won’t stay in emergency shelters that don’t allow pets, which is a common rule.
Mark Ashley, who has been living in a tent near the Kitchener Public Library for weeks, said he needs to be housed in a place that allows dogs because he is not willing to leave his beloved pet Mabel.
“The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region and across the country is unprecedented,” said Coun. Jim Erb. “The addition of this emergency shelter will increase access across the region, however the system is still facing pressures and increased demand. I want to thank the YW, St. Andrew’s Church and The Working Centre for stepping up and serving our community when it needed it most and their continued support.”
The Working Centre has been providing support to residents experiencing unemployment and poverty in the region for 40 years. Offering shelter space year-round is essential while work continues to create more supportive housing to address the overwhelming need locally, says the centre’s founders.
“The Edith MacIntosh site will provide vital access to much-needed emergency shelter and supports,” said Stephanie Mancini of The Working Centre.
“We have been grateful to St. Andrew’s Church for providing shelter space through the winter, and we feel it is important to continue to provide shelter space through the summer. As we work to increase the number of supportive housing units, shelter spaces that are welcoming and safe form an important base of stability for people.”
The Edith MacIntosh site is located next to Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute. It is one of the five child-care centres operated by the region that was closed last fall to deal with a budget shortfall.
