Hybrid shelter opening date pushed back
The opening date for the Region of Waterloo’s hybrid shelter has been pushed back, with design delays being blamed.
At Wednesday night’s council meeting, the region’s commissioner of community services Peter Sweeney told councillors staff are now targeting mid to late March for opening.
Sweeney admitted the original target date of early February was “a bit too ambitious.”
“Although this is intended to be an interim and temporary solution, it is not a solution without its complexities,” Sweeney said.
The hybrid shelter will be set up on regionally-owned land at 1001 Erbs Road on the border of the City of Waterloo and the Township of Wilmot.
The property is home to the region’s Emergency Services Training and Research Centre campus, which includes paramedic services, the landfill, and a training facility for multiple emergency services.
The region has said the hybrid shelter will be home to up to 50 people, each with their own small cabin, equipped with electricity, heating and air conditioning.
A main cabin complex will provide running water, washrooms, laundry services, space for meals and access to support services like addiction and mental health counselling and help finding permanent housing.
Sweeney said it’s the design of that space, and ensuring it will adequately serve the people who live there, that’s holding things up.
“Ensuring we have places to have private and dignified conversations, whether that’s related to housing, social work, or mental health and addictions, has required a bit of a rethink in terms of what that community space needs to look like,” Sweeney said.
The Region of Waterloo and The Working Centre, who has been contracted to operate the hybrid shelter, will host a public information meeting for neighboring homes and business Thursday night at 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.