FORT FRANCES — The Out of the Cold Warming Centre is all set to open five days earlier than planned.
Originally slated to restart operations on Nov. 14, the place for unhoused people in Fort Frances to access temporary shelter announced this week that it will open its doors Thursday at 8:30 p.m. instead.
“We were lucky enough that we were able to open up sooner than usual,” said Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard, the District of Rainy River Services Board’s community engagement coordinator for homelessness.
The key to that was staff availability. The casual contract workers who make the operation tick were able to start before Nov. 14, Witherspoon-Bedard said.
The District of Rainy River Services Board operates Out of the Cold as “a safe, warm indoor place to rest and access snacks, washroom facilities and referrals to other service providers” during the cold months of the year, board spokesperson Heather Latter said in an email.
“Maybe a guest is saying, for example, ‘Hey, you know, I’m thinking about reducing my drug usage,’” Witherspoon-Bedard explains. “So then our staff can do a referral or they can say, ‘Hey, why don’t you check out (a local agency)? Here’s a card, go check it out.’”
The centre is open nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. at 324 Victoria Avenue. Doors are locked for the night at 11 p.m.
Out of the Cold will hold an Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 22, National Housing Day.
