NORTH BAY – The Warming Centre in North Bay still hasn't found a new home, so The Gathering Place wants to set up cots in its dining room.
The mayor of North Bay says the city supports the Warming Centre, but regulations need to be met, and so they cannot allow it.
"We were then informed we couldn't necessarily do it legally. There were a number of changes that had to be made, and we were to get in contact with an architect and possibly an engineer and talk about re-zoning," said Dennis Chippa, The Gathering Place.
"A lot of buildings just would not be suitable for this type of use. It is a challenge to find a place, to find a building that meets all these building codes and fire regulations," said Al McDonald, North Bay Mayor.
Chippa says the building is already zoned to do shelter work.
A group of volunteers and The Gathering Place have operated The Warming Centre with no funding from the city for the past six years.
Chippa says that will continue.
"We are going to be open here regardless, whether or not there are cots is still up in the air… it's a better option than outside for sure, but definitely sleeping at tables is what we would have to do," said Chippa.
An opening date has not been finalized, but Chippa expects operations to begin sometime late November, and it remains to be seen how it will be run.
