Just before expected cold weather, 35 beds for people experiencing homelessness officially opened Thursday (December 19) in Cobourg’s new shelter on Division Street.
Northumberland County announced the second and third floors of the former retirement home at 310 Division St., which feature emergency shelter beds, are now ready for occupancy.
The facility, which the county purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House, is intended to “modernize” shelter services, and will serve as the new and only shelter of its kind in Northumberland County. In addition to short-term beds, the shelter will offer longer-term transitional housing options when the building opens in its entirety in 2025.
With the opening of the new shelter, Transition House will be transitioning residents from the current smaller location at 10 Chapel St. in Cobourg to the new space. The new shelter will expand access to services to additional people, including couples, people with mobility issues, and people with pets.
In honour of the occasion, Northumberland County released a video to highlight the new facility and the partnerships that have made the project possible.
“This is a proud moment for our community as we continue to take meaningful steps to support our most vulnerable residents,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a statement. “The opening of these emergency shelter spaces is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our staff, partners, and the community over the last year. This facility represents hope, stability, and the beginning of a brighter future for those in need.”
VIDEO: “Pathways to Hope” – Northumberland County
Some operations at 310 Division St. began last month with the opening of a 24/7 warming hub on the ground floor. The space offers respite from the cold, laundry and shower facilities, food, and “a safe space for anyone in need.”
Earlier this week, several community members took part in a public walk-through of the nearly completed facility to learn more about the new services and supports. The ground floor space is also slated to serve as a cooling room during the summer months.
With the second and third floors now complete, up to 10 people currently residing at Transition House’s Chapel Street shelter will be moving into the new facility first, followed shortly thereafter by up to 17 individuals currently in the motel overflow program, the county noted in the release.
“Once this changeover is complete — anticipated by early January — Transition House will begin intakes with members of the community seeking shelter. Shelter operations at the Chapel Street location will cease at that time, consolidating services at this modernized facility.”
In addition to providing emergency shelter, services offered on the second and third floors of the new space will focus on connecting individuals to needed resources, including wellness, housing, and employment supports.
“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone,” said Transition House executive director Ike Nwibe. “This modernized shelter is more than a building — it is a space of care, empowerment, and opportunity. We are excited to welcome our clients into their new accommodations and help them on their path to stability and independence.”
Discussions about the new shelter have been underway for several months, along with renovations to the building, which was previously a privately operated seniors’ residence.
The shelter’s opening was delayed due to a host of challenges, including unmet requirements of the Town of Cobourg’s emergency care establishments (ECE) bylaw, which was introduced by the town earlier this year. Those requirements have since been met.
During a special meeting in November, Northumberland County council authorized spending up to $587,700 for costs associated with ECE bylaw compliance and approved using the county’s general reserve to fund any costs for 2024.
Council also gave the green light to update the 2025 budget to include financing requirements from the tax levy for the operation of the Division Street shelter in compliance with the Cobourg ECE bylaw.
Earlier this fall, Northumberland County council authorized staff to work with Transition House to secure motel rooms for people seeking shelter while awaiting the opening of 310 Division St. The capacity at Chapel Street had been reduced from 22 beds to 10 spaces to conform with Cobourg’s bylaw and meet fire code safety standards.
Early in 2025, the county expects to open the fourth floor of the shelter, which will contain 10 units of transitional housing. These units will provide longer-term housing options and supportive services for people preparing to transition to permanent housing.
Northumberland County has also announced the launch of a community liaison committee for the Division Street Shelter, which met for the first time on Tuesday (December 17).
The committee comprises 21 members of the community, including neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the shelter, residents of the broader Cobourg community, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, along with delegates from local businesses, the faith community, and community agencies, members of Northumberland Paramedics and the Cobourg Police, and representatives from both the shelter and from the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County.
According to a release from the county, monthly committee meetings will provide a forum for sharing information, resolving challenges, and advancing solutions to support the local integration of shelter services.
