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Peterborough, ON - A new overnight drop-in space for people experiencing homelessness will open at the Trinity Community Centre at 360 Reid St. starting the evening of Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
The winter overnight drop-in space operated by One City through an agreement with the City of Peterborough will be open daily from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. until the end of March 2024. It will have capacity to accommodated up to 45 people. The overnight drop-in space service will resume October 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025 winter season.
The One City winter overnight drop-in space replaces the City’s overflow shelter bed program, which has a capacity of 30 beds, that is currently operating at the Peterborough Public Library. It will close on the morning of November 28 with the service transitioning to the One City drop-in space the evening of November 28.
For daytime drop-in space, One City will start its new daytime service, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, year-round, starting December 1, 2023, supported by the City of Peterborough. The daytime drop-in space operated by One City at the Trinity Community Centre will replace the One Roof Community Centre daytime drop-in program at 99 Brock St. that will close on November 30, 2023.
The daytime drop-in space is open to anyone, including anyone who needs access to resources or connections to community programs. Light snacks will be provided at this program with the goal of developing a full meal program in the near future.
The City’s emergency shelter network, operated by community partner agencies, offers 127 shelter beds.
The Trinity Community Centre will also extend its hours during severe weather events to provide shelter from the elements.
“In a time where so many are being pushed to the margins, we need to do all we can to offer support,” said Christian Harvey, Executive Director of One City Peterborough. “This partnership with the City is an important step to assisting people in their struggle to survive.”
This initiative has been made possible through collaboration between the City of Peterborough, One City Peterborough, the United Way Peterborough and District and the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network.
“The One City winter overnight drop-in centre is another critical part of the City’s winter homelessness services strategy. It will serve some of the most vulnerable residents in our community, working alongside the other housing and shelter providers to ensure people have a warm, safe place to go,” said Councillors Alex Bierk and Keith Riel, Co-chairs of the City’s Housing and Homelessness Portfolio. “The City is also looking forward to the opening of the year-round, daytime drop-in space, which will replace the current One Roof drop-in centre program later this year. Thank you to One City, the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, and the United Way for their efforts to make these services possible.”
“Both the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network and former members of the now disbanded Trinity United Church are pleased with the progress made by One City Peterborough, as they work to realize the vision of a community hub, serving those without a place to call home” said Steve Kylie, Chair of the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network. “The centre not only offers short term respite from the challenges of living without shelter, employment, and the resulting lack of wellbeing, but also provides help in finding more permanent shelter, employment opportunities and holistic support on a path to increased re-integration and participation in the community. The Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, working closely with the former Trinity United Church congregation and more recently with One City Peterborough, has resulted in the former church property becoming available for transformation into its new life in service of the community.”
The City of Peterborough is providing One City Peterborough with $900,000 per year for three years under the service agreement for the winter overnight drop-in space and the year-round, daytime drop-in centre. The City will continue to work closely with One City and other community partners to support people who use shelter and housing services.
This City of Peterborough is sincerely grateful for the partnership it has developed over the past 10 years with St. John’s Anglican Church and its delivery of the One Roof Community Centre. One Roof has been an important service where people could receive a free, nutritious meal, access services, shelter from the elements, and a welcoming place to meet with friends.
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