New space for overnight warming welcomes women for winter months

A new warming spaceis now open in Windsor for women to get out of the cold as winter sets in. It's coming at a time when more women are on the streets, a local advocate says.

"One of the things we're seeing as a community is that the number of women who are accessing shelters is increasing and the number of women who are rough sleeping on the streets and choosing not to access shelters is actually increasing as well," said Lady Laforet, the executive director of the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families, an emergency shelter in Windsor.

The warming centre, which officially opened on Monday night, is open to 15 women a night from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at 50 Tuscarora Street.

There is space to sleep if women want, but there is also a staff member on hand to help connect women with other resources if needed. Spaces will be available first come, first served, and a light meal is also served in the morning.

While they had two women come in on Monday night, Laforet says they anticipate more will come as the word gets out.

"We'll try to be flexible to meet the needs of each woman as they come in," Laforet said.

Laforet said there's already been an outpouring of support for the warming centre on social media. But for anyone looking to contribute, Laforet says they can always use donations of hats, scarves and gloves.

The warming centre is needed because on most nights, the shelter itself is at or very near its capacity of 32 women, she said.

"We're seeing multiple women who are new to us and new to the community who are coming in for the first time, often times saying things like, perhaps, 'I was evicted and I thought I would find a place in time and I didn't,'" she said.

"Or we're seeing a lot of women who might be street entrenched ... but now that the weather is getting a little colder, it's a little harder to stay on the streets on the coldest nights."

The warming centre is funded through the province and the City of Windsor for overnight staff through the end of March, supplies to accommodate people sleeping and the meal in the morning.

Laforet said there are always safety concerns for people who are sleeping on the street, but said the concerns and how women and men might access or use a warming centre is different.

"We've been very responsive, making sure that there are women's beds available across the shelter system and as well as women's warming centre specifically because we know that they might have different safety concerns when they're accessing the warming centre," she said. "So we're happy to be able to provide something that is new and unique in our community."

Christine Wilson-Furlonger is the administrator at StreetHelp, an organization that helps feed and care for Windsor's homeless population.

She said she's thrilled there's a new resource for women who are on the street. Though women-only shelters exist for safety and other reasons,Wilson-Furlonger is concerned that a warming centre that only accepts women won't be accessible to everyone.

"A person who could freeze to death, male or female, should be allowed in," she said, adding she feels there need to be more resources available for men.

"I'm grateful the women will have somewhere to go. But then there's another component. What about the couples? Women are not going to leave their partner out in the cold."

Other shelters, warming centres now open

The Downtown Mission also added additional shelter beds and opened an overnight warming shelter open to all that will run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. throughout the winter, and the Salvation Army has shelter beds available for men.

In a news release, the City of Windsor urges people who are concerned about someone sleeping outside who is at risk for hypothermia or frostbite to call 911.

People can also call 311 during business hours to request support from an outreach worker for someone who is not at an immediate risk but could use support. 211 also has information on other community services for people who are homeless or living on a low income.