While there were hoops and hiccups around its opening, the new homeless shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg has seen more than 160 people come through the doors in its first two months of operation, with seven people already moving to permanent housing.
The transition of shelter services in Cobourg from 10 Chapel St. to 310 Division St. occurred in January, although the new shelter made its debut two months earlier with the opening of its warming room in November.
According to a media release from Northumberland County, more than 160 people have accessed the warming room and shelter services since the doors opened. Around 25 per cent of them have indicated they were living rough prior to accessing shelter services. Four couples and three people with pets have been among those accessing shelter spaces — groups that were unable to be accommodated at the previous Chapel Street Shelter.
“We are gratified to see the impact this new facility is already having on our clients’ lives,” said Ike Nwibe, executive director of Transition House Coalition.
“This is more than just a place to stay — it’s a space where individuals can find safety, access support services, and begin to build a better future. We are grateful to community members and partner agencies for joining us in this work to provide critical services and supports to people living unhoused in Northumberland. This support will continue to be vital to helping us meet the diverse needs of the people being served, and to ensure successful integration of the shelter within the community.”
Since the opening of the Division Street shelter, Transition House has established partnerships with Hope and Light Outreach Services to serve lunch on site twice a week and the Salvation Army to serve dinner one night a week, with more than 456 meals served to clients.
Meanwhile, six other community organizations have also begun offering on-site services: Northumberland County Community & Social Services, Northumberland Paramedics Community Paramedicine Program, Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services, The Help Centre, The Legal Centre, and Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast).
Seven people have already transitioned to permanent housing through the efforts of partner organizations, according to the release, “marking a significant milestone in their journey toward stability and independence.”
The Division Street facility, which the county purchased in 2023 in partnership with Transition House, is intended to “modernize” shelter services.
Located on the main floor, the warming room offers respite from the cold (and will offer respite from the heat in the summer), along with laundry and shower facilities and food.
The second and third floors, which feature 35 emergency shelter beds, opened in mid-December. In addition to the short-term beds, the shelter will offer 10 longer-term transitional housing units on the fourth floor.
“We are encouraged by the positive impact we’ve already seen at 310 Division Street,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander.
“This is a critical step in the journey towards long-term solutions for homelessness in our community. The progress made in such a short period speaks to the power of collaboration and the community’s commitment to creating lasting change. As we continue to work together, we are focused on building on this momentum to ensure that those facing homelessness have the support and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives and integrate back into the community.”
One of the hurdles that delayed the opening of the shelter was the need for the county and Transition House to respond to and comply with the Town of Cobourg’s by-law requirements regulating emergency care establishments, which was introduced in February 2024.
In addition, prior to the opening of the shelter, there were county council meetings during which some residents and members of the business community voiced concerns about the plans for the building, which was formerly a retirement residence.
In response, there were community consultations and engagement efforts as the transition of the shelter from Chapel Street to Division Street was underway. Public engagement initiatives are contining, the county said.
“Northumberland County has been working closely with Transition House and community members to ensure ongoing collaboration,” the release states. “This includes the launch, in December, of the 310 Division Community Liaison Committee (CLC), fulfilling a key recommendation from public consultations held in early 2024. Two productive meetings have taken place to date, with a focus on developing a communications protocol and creating recommendations to improve community safety and well-being.”
Northumberland County is encouraging residents to support shelter services in the county by sharing information available at northumberland.ca/sheltermodernization about the new Division Street shelter.
To support shelter services financially, residents can make a donation to Transition House at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/79494 or donate to other agencies in Northumberland delivering services to vulnerable members of the community.
In the future, Transition House plans to engage volunteers in different aspects of shelter services. Those who are interested in volunteering with Transition House can email info@thshelter.ca. Transition House will reach out when it’s ready to start involving volunteers.
Finally, Transition House is currently collecting donations of new or gently used adult winter clothing, including jackets, boots, and socks, as well as specific food items such as coffee and sugar.
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter during regular business hours. Community members interested in making this type of donation in the future are encouraged to contact the shelter first about its needs at that given time prior to collecting items.
