Greater Sudbury looking for cooling station space
The YMCA has provided warming centre services to the vulnerable since November, but as pandemic restrictions begin to ease, it needs the space to transition back to core programs and services.
The daytime and overnight warming centre will close at the end of the month.
"It went really well," said Kendra MacIsaac, vice-president of health and wellness at the Sudbury YMCA.
"I know this population is one that is often ignored and you know, we were very happy to make new friends and treat people with kindness, respect and empathy and for that we will be forever grateful."
The city confirmed it's looking for a new space and service provider to open a cooling centre.
"We learned last year that we didn't have enough facilities open, this year we are going to make sure that we are ahead of the game," said Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc. "We need to provide the washrooms, we need to provide those cooling stations, we need to provide a lot of things for these people to make sure that they don't get heatstroke and end up in the hospital."
Officials that work with the vulnerable said the homeless population is growing in Sudbury and basic services are desperately needed to replace what was offered at the Y.
"A lot of our folks have heat-related illnesses, so cooling stations, water, washrooms, those are the big needs coming up in the months to come," said Lisa Long, executive director of the Samaritan Centre.
People who work with the homeless also said news the Y is closing the warming centre is stressful for people with no place to call home.
"We are hearing anxiety from clients, not knowing what is next for them, what might be available or not for them," said Ray Landry, the co-ordination of the Homelessness Network in Sudbury.
"Along with our community partners, we are trying to figure out what spaces might be useable to offer to clients who need a place to be especially during harsh weather days."
More tents are popping up in Memorial Park and people have moved into a gazebo in the park once again.
"We are seeing some new faces in town still -- that trend still continues," said Landry.
CTV has learned the city is close to securing a cooling centre facility downtown.
An announcement is expected in the coming days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.