With the arrival of colder weather and no overnight space in Northumberland County for those without housing to escape the elements, county council has approved opening a temporary warming room in council chambers at the county’s headquarters at 555 Courthouse Road in Cobourg.
At a special virtual meeting on Tuesday afternoon (October 28), county council considered a staff report on four options for a winter warming room location and approved a resolution to open a temporary warming room in council chambers, which would operate seven nights a week from 8 p.m. to 8 p.m. from November 1 until March 31, 2026.
In June, county council had directed staff to close the warming room located on the lower level of the 310 Division Street homeless shelter, and to explore other locations for a warming room outside of Cobourg.
That decision followed seven months of complaints from neighbouring residents and businesses after the low-barrier shelter, which is owned by Northumberland County and operated by Transition House, opened in December 2024.
Over the summer, county staff toured and considered eight possible warming room locations, six of which were outside of Cobourg (including three churches and three municipal sites) and two of which were within Cobourg (including two municipal sites owned by Northumberland County).
On October 8, council directed staff to explore the potential of a warming room at four of those locations: county headquarters at 555 Courthouse Road (either by using mobile construction trailers or in council chambers), the county building at 600 William Street (either by using mobile construction trailers or in the boardroom), the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre at 216 Purdy Road in Colborne, and Fenella Hall at 8071 County Road 45 in Roseneath.
At its October 28 meeting, council reviewed a staff report describing the operational considerations, outcomes and impacts, and financial implications of each location, with council ultimately deciding on the council chambers option. The resolution passed by council also requested that Cobourg council either consider a blanket licence exemption under its emergency care establishment by-law for the location or issue a licence for the location.
During the meeting, council heard from three public delegations about the need for a new space. One delegate, Chance Brown, said there are approximately 75 people living rough, and others couch-surfing in Cobourg.
A second delegate, Shawn Senecal, who is the integrated director for the community mental health programs supporting both Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg and Campbellford Memorial Hospital in Campbellford, said having a warming room is of “critical importance” and an “essential service” for Northumberland County.
The closing of 310 Division St. has created “a gap that increases the physical risk from injury due to cold and extreme heat and illnesses that already affect the mentally ill and those that present with those challenges,” Seneca said. “As the cold weather is approaching, I feel, as a community, we cannot let this gap in service continue.”
Delegate Maria Papaioaanoy said people who are homeless in Cobourg deserve the same dignity afforded to other residents of the community.
According to a media release from the county, while council authorized an opening date as early as November 1, “staff will require additional time to arrange staffing, equipment, and other necessary resources.”
The county said it will also connect with Town of Cobourg staff regarding any requirements related to Cobourg’s emergency care establishment bylaw.
“Based on these factors, it is anticipated that a warming room could open within two to four weeks pending all necessary approvals, with a goal to open the doors as quickly as possible,” the release stated.
Once opened, the space will provide access to warmth, washrooms, and light refreshments overnight throughout the winter season.
“The warming room is a compassionate and practical response to an urgent community need,” said county warden Brian Ostrander in a statement. “This is one piece of a broader effort to ensure that everyone in our community has access to safe and dignified supports when they are most needed.”
