New overnight warming centre keeps more people out of the cold
Waterloo Region – New overnight warming spaces are opening in Cambridge as part of a plan to provide more shelter from the cold this winter for people experiencing homelessness.
The YWCA Cambridge at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cambridge will serve up to 20 women and gender diverse individuals. Regional Council approved funding for the centre in 2025.
In addition to the new centre, the Region of Waterloo and co-creators of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (PECH) worked together to re-open three other overnight warming centres:
- Porchlight in Cambridge will serve up to 30 men per night, with the ability to expand.
- Thresholds in Kitchener provides shelter to 30 men and women and can also expand.
- The Working Centre will serve more than 100 men and women per night at St. John’s Kitchen in Kitchener.
The warming centres will be open from November 1 to March 31, 2027.
For people living unsheltered, warming supplies and resources such as sleeping bags, tents, winter boots, hats, mitts and gift cards will be provided through many partners. This includes The Working Centre, Thrive HIV and YWCA Cambridge, Engage Rural, and Community Care Concepts.
Regional buildings at 99 Regina, 150 Frederick, and 150 Main Street will also serve as warming spaces again this winter. Extended hours begin November 1. More information can be found at: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/WarmingSpaces.
In addition to warming centres and supports, nine emergency shelters operate year-round to help support people out of homelessness. Two of these shelters opened last year, tailoring to the needs of women and gender diverse individuals.
Over the past few years, investments in PECH have supported the expansion of shelter programs, winter warming, and more responsive supports during extreme weather.
These programs can be the start of one’s journey towards safe, permanent housing. Last year, the Region supported 809 people into permanent housing from homelessness. Of those, 390 were experiencing chronic homelessness. Between 2022 and 2025, there was a 61 per cent increase in the number of people supported from chronic homelessness to permanent housing.
Quotes:
“You can’t set goals if you don’t have somewhere to lay your head down at night or accept a job not knowing if you are going to be able to sleep.”
“It’s helpful to have a person at ground zero saying you’re still loved and you can still turn things around.”
“This place gives us a sense of hope.”
- Participants from St. John’s Kitchen, The Working Centre
"This temporary warming centre will add critical capacity to Cambridge’s homelessness response system at a time of year when extremely cold conditions pose serious risks to life and health. Currently, the only overnight option for women is our 20-bed shelter, which is constantly full. We are grateful to the Region of Waterloo for funding this service and to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for providing the operational space.”
- Kim Decker, Executive Director, YWCA Cambridge
“The Overnight Warming Centre is a life-saving service for people experiencing homelessness in our community. On the coldest nights of the year, it provides more than warmth—it offers safety, food, dignity, and a place where people know they will be welcomed and cared for.”
- Cameron Dearlove, Executive Director, Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services
“Thresholds Homes and Supports is thankful for the opportunity to support people at risk from not only the cold, but social isolation, hunger and a loss of community. The Warming Center at 298 Lawrence will be a safe place to spend the night and just as importantly a way to connect and receive support."
- Eric Philip, CEO, Thresholds Homes and Supports
"These services are vital to the safety and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness, and they are often a first step towards stability for many people. With the compassion, care, and work of service providers in the community, hundreds of people who access warming centres and shelters are supported into safe, permanent housing every year.”
- Karen Redman, Chair, Region of Waterloo
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