Homeless support services in North Bay at capacity
Officials with the services in North Bay that help the city's homeless population say they continue to operate at full capacity; including the low-barrier shelter, the daytime warming centre and hotel rooms used to house homeless individuals.
The daytime warming centre has capacity for 40 clients at one time and is regularly nearing capacity. The 21-bed low barrier shelter adjacent to the warming centre and rented hotel rooms for homeless people are full.
Officials have been using hotel rooms for quite some time for homeless people to get them off the streets at night.
The local social services board is planning to open a second phase, including an additional 20-beds, at the Northern Pines transitional housing facility.
Members of the board are meeting with the Ontario Government early next week to discuss funding for further development to eventually replace the low-barrier shelter.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"They're portables quite frankly and because there is such a large amount of traffic through it, they're wearing out at this point," said District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board chair and North Bay city councillor Mark King.
Dennis Chippa is the executive director of The Gathering Place, a North Bay soup kitchen and community garden space in North Bay. He told CTV News he just wants people to be safe and warm.
“Ya the transitional housing idea is brilliant,” said Chippa.
“We just need more spots."
King said opening another phase would help people get out of the hotels and into transitional housing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.