Community works together to protect homeless population from COVID-19 and to plan for winter

Posted on Thursday September 24, 2020

Waterloo Region – The community is working together to continue to protect people who are homeless from COVID-19 and to increase capacity in temporary accommodations ahead of winter.

Three sites in the community have been offered up as short term accommodations for Region-funded service providers, including:

  • YWCA, operating out of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener.
  • The Working Centre, operating out of the Waterloo Cooperative Residence’s Hammar Building on University Avenue West in Waterloo.

The third location has been identified but details will not be released until agreements are in place.

The fully-staffed sites will allow for physical distancing and will provide participants with food, harm reduction supplies, and supports to find permanent housing. The accommodations are scheduled to open in two to four weeks.

Service providers will work closely with the City of Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Police Service, the Region of Waterloo and other stakeholders to ensure these sites integrate well with the community.

Plans are also being made in Cambridge to add shelter beds should they be needed over the coming months.

Since the pandemic began, there has been only one case of COVID-19 among this population and over 150 people have moved from shelters into permanent housing.

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For an interview, please contact:

Waterloo Cooperative Residence Incorporated Hammar Building
Service Provider: The Working Centre

St. Marks Church Emergency Shelter
Service Provider YWCA:

 

 

 

 

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