The safety and wellbeing of the entire Peterborough community is at risk because of inadequate funding and space for the homeless.
That statement from the leader of the local United Way who says he’s concerned about the future of the city’s Overflow Shelter, without further federal funding scheduled for this winter.
The facility on Wolfe Street provided a roof and a bed to sleep in for 32 people, nightly, last winter. The one time Government of Canada funding also paid for survival gear, culturally appropriate services for Indigenous people, and harm reduction.
On December 9th, 2021, UWP conducted its biannual Point-In-Time Count, which is an enumeration and survey of all people experiencing homelessness within the city. December 9th, like several other nights throughout the winter, saw all adult shelters at 100% capacity, including the Overflow Emergency Shelter. While 46% of the Point-In-Time respondents reported plans to stay in shelter the night of December 9th, 27% planned on sleeping outdoors and 20% did not know where they were going to sleep that night.
Peterborough and District United Way warns that without another source of money there could be a 60% increase in people without shelter between this November and March.
(Written by: John Brenner)
