The operations at 310 Division Street underwent a substantial restructuring this past week as Northumberland County council decided to retool the mandate and remove the 24-hour warming/cooling hub by July 4.
In a major victory for opponents, county politicians at their July 18 regular meeting decided to temporarily eliminate the ground-floor hub while they study other options. By the end of July, county staff will prepare a report to change the focus to a housing shelter and services for people with low to moderate needs.
All this comes after seven months. However, the 47-bed housing and homeless shelter was the focus of significant opposition from the earliest days of the announcement of the purchase of the building in 2023.
This week’s decision followed a town hall meeting organized by council on June 17 at the Cobourg Community Centre, where 39 residents spoke against and in favour of the facility.
County councillors discussed options for sheltering models at 310 Division Street, focusing on addressing criminality and mental health issues.
Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland proposed a high-barrier shelter with accommodations for couples and pets while emphasizing the need to relocate the warming and cooling hub outside the town.
After a lengthy discussion, politicians agreed to transition to a higher barrier shelter serving clients with lower to moderate acuity. Staff will provide a report by July 30 on the timeline, budget, and operational expectations
The motion also included directives to renegotiate the contract with Transition House and explore alternative locations for the warming hub.
During the meeting, county councillors heard a staff report, plus several delegations prior to the debate. Each of these elements is presented below.
In Their Words is a feature that allows people to listen to what is going on at the various councils within Northumberland. No spin. No opinions. No one is telling you what to think. Just what was said.
It is a chance you might not have otherwise to hear directly from your elected representatives. I hope you find it useful and informative.
The report:
The delegations:
The debate:
