There's another option for women seeking shelter during the cold months of winter.
The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families has opened a warming centre in addition to its current shelter services.
The new program allows women who need a warm place to sleep a place to go outside of the traditional shelter program.
Staff at the shelter will provide mats, blankets, and breakfast in the centre lobby area. The warming centre will be operating nightly, without exception, from 10 p.m. to 7a.m.
“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 Lady Laforet, executive director of the Welcome Centre. "“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”.
The warming centre started operating this week and will open nightly until the end of March.
The warming centre is being supported by funds provided by the Corporation of the City of Windsor and the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
