Basil Clarke says Simcoe County warming centres logged 7,494 stays

Simcoe County has wound down its winter warming centre program after eight sites provided 7,494 overnight stays for 846 unique individuals this winter. Basil Clarke said Orillia's warming centre also helped 11 people move into permanent housing.

Across the county, the seasonal centres included around-the-clock facilities in Barrie and Orillia, and 353 people used warming services on 885 occasions during the coldest days of the season. The county said many sites also offered meals, laundry facilities and donated clothing.

Basil Clarke on Orillia

Clarke, the Simcoe County warden, said: "Through Orillia's warming centre alone, staff were able to help eleven individuals transition into permanent housing, while connecting many others to emergency shelters, housing resources, and healthcare services." The county said people using the centres were also linked with food banks, Ontario Works programs, supportive housing and bridge housing initiatives.

County offices stay open

All six County of Simcoe Social and Community Services offices remained open during business hours to offer indoor refuge from the cold, and the county said those offices will continue to provide shelter from extreme heat and inclement weather during the summer months. County staff will now begin evaluating this year's response and preparing for next season.

The sharpest measure of demand came in the 7,494 overnight stays, but the county's own figures also show the centres were more than a place to sleep. They served as an entry point to housing and support services while the winter program was still running, and that is the part the county is carrying into its next review.