Homelessness

Recent Posts

Sleeping cabins put on hold as Cobourg council to offer land to county for affordable housing

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Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

The Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective was before the Cobourg council earlier this week. Politicians were deciding what to do next. Staff recommended two alternatives: reject it or go forward with the proposal to put 12 units next to the Memorial Arena on Furnace Street. After politicians presented their positions, Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty offered a third choice. Declare the land surplus and offer it to Northumberland County as a site for an affordable housing project. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, #Cobourg, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

Local minister steps in while county homeless shelter faces emergency – again

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Transition House graphic

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

Two executive directors have left Transition House within a year. Three key board members have also left. This includes the chair and vice-chair stepping away within the past few months. The fiscal year-end is quickly approaching. And it is still winter and very cold out as the unsheltered try to survive. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Northumberland County, Social Justice

Old transit bus becomes new warming centre for Port Hope

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Buddy Bus

The show:

The full show with bonus material:

Jordan Stevenson is a local Port Hope businessman. He is also an advocate for the homeless and affordable housing. An old city transit bus from Windsor arrived at his office on Hamilton Road. He is transforming the bus into a mobile warming centre. He named the project the Buddy Bus after his constant companion, a rescued dog. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Port Hope, Social Justice

Sleeping cabin proposal before Cobourg council unpacked

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Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

In December, the Cobourg council received a delegation from the Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective. It presented a proposal to build 12 units and support services on Furnace Street next to the old Memorial Arena. The proposal will cost about a quarter of a million dollars. This includes the cabins’ construction and operating costs for a six-month pilot project. The money will come from fundraising and contributions from the people living in the cabins. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Social Justice

County opens warming room early as CAO explains $250,000 annual budget

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St. Peter's Anglican Church Cobourg

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

Here is Northumberland County CAO Jennifer Moore talking about the early opening of its warming room. It is a joint project of the county, Transition House, and St. Peter’s Anglican Church. It was scheduled to open on Dec. 5. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Northumberland County, Social Justice

Details about a community-led temporary warming room at St. Andrew’s Church

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Donations for the community-led warming room.

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

Recently, a significant snowstorm drew into sharp focus the need for a warming room for people living in the rough. Some of those homeless people sought shelter in the bus terminal in downtown Cobourg. Through the actions of some advocates, the bus terminal was kept open during the storm. However, the people using the bus terminal were evicted when the storm was over. With nowhere else to go and the official warming room run by Northumberland County not ready, a group of volunteers quickly pulled together to create a temporary warming room at St. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Social Justice

Group hopes to build temporary sleeping cabins for homeless in Northumberland

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Sleeping cabins

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

After efforts, this summer to find a solution to people sleeping in parks and public spaces across Northumberland, a group of concerned citizens got together to propose a solution. Sleeping cabins are small huts of less than 100 sq. ft. that provide a secure, safe place for those who are homeless. These cabins are already being used in Kitchener, Peterborough, and Kingston with some success. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Social Justice

Homeless Day march spawns statement from county on warming room prep

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Homeless person out in the cold

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

Last week, a group of advocates held a march in Cobourg on World Homeless Day. They walked from the courthouse on William Street to the County building hoping to raise awareness about those sleeping in the rough in parks and other public spaces across Northumberland. Notably, four days before the march, Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate released a pre-emptive statement saying the county was finalizing the setting up warming rooms. The statement also mentioned getting input from people with lived experience. It also went on to describe other steps the county was taking to help homeless people. In this interview with Jennifer Moore, CAO of Northumberland County will dig deeper into the statement and what is actually going on when it comes to preparations to address the needs of people who find themselves without shelter. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Politics, Social Justice

Growing number of seniors becoming homeless in Northumberland County

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SENIORS HOMELESS

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

As of last week, there was an 80-year-old senior living in his car. According to Debbie Wood, an intensive housing support worker with the Help Centre, she is not quite sure where he is. The last time she spoke with him, he was told he could not sleep in his car where he had parked. He had to move on. So, he decided to go deeper into hiding, where nobody would bother him. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Seniors

Advocating for homeless and affordable housing priority, not politics, says Beatty

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Nicole Beatty councillor

The interview:

Cobourg Councillor Nicole Beatty is pushing hard to get the issue of homelessness addressed in the community. At a special meeting dedicated to the homeless crisis on July 4, Beatty was vocal, looking to expedite action. First, there was the staff report on encampments. The council unanimously decided to keep the status quo with a few minor changes. Next, there was Beatty’s initiative. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Politics, Social Justice