Shelter space in Waterloo Region still not meeting demand

This week’s sub-zero temperatures have highlighted the need for shelter spaces in Waterloo Region.

Two new shelters are in the works for Cambridge and Kitchener, but are not yet open, while the operators of the region’s largest shelter say they have to turn people away every night.

One of the new shelters will be in the basement of Grace Bible Church in Cambridge; renovations there are taking longer than originally anticipated.

“We are doing renovation in a church that's over 100-years-old,” said Kim Decker, the CEO of YWCA Cambridge, the organization that will operate the shelter. “As we've been moving through construction, there have been a couple of surprises that needed to be remediated before we can move on to some of the other renovations.”

The shelter, which will be Cambridge’s first for women, will be open 24/7 and can accommodate 20 people. It will also include access to wraparound services.

It's hoped the shelter will open before the end of the year.

“We know how important it is to get this space open as quickly as we can,” Decker said. “That's why everybody is dedicating as much time and effort as they can to make sure that we do get open as quickly as possible.”

The exterior of a new temporary shelter at 84 Frederick St. in Kitchener is seen on Nov. 19, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

Another new shelter, with 37 beds for women and femme-identifying individuals, is opening at 84 Frederick St. in Kitchener.

That location also needed renovations. The original goal was to have the new emergency shelter operating by early December.

“We are working on final preparations and opening plans,” said Chris McEvoy, manager of homelessness and supportive housing in the Region of Waterloo. “We hope to have more information on an opening date, I would say imminently, in the coming days.”

Both shelters will be the only ones in the region dedicated to women.

“We know that the experience of women experiencing homeless and femme-identifying individuals is unique and different, and it need dedicated staff, supports and resources to meet those unique needs,” McEvoy explained.

A point-in-time count, done in October, identified 2,371 people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region.

Currently, there are only 548 shelter spaces available.

One hundred of them are at the King Street Shelter, in the former Schwaben Club building. That shelter is operated by the Working Centre.

“Each night, we have to turn people away, seven to 10 people who are coming [in],” said the Working Centre’s director Joe Mancini. “People know the shelter is full, but they're going to come because the reality is it's freezing outside, and they need a place. They need some kind of warmth.”

Mancini says about 70 per cent of the people staying at the King Street Shelter are women, as they are given priority placement.

He said having more shelter spaces available will help, though there’s still a long way to go.

“We have so many people who are camping that would take shelter space if it was available.”