Thunder Bay’s emergency shelters are bracing for a demanding winter season with a surge in tent encampment residents and ongoing delays in the city’s temporary shelter village project. Collaboration among shelter providers Grace Place, Urban Abbey, and Shelter House ensures no one in need is turned away on cold nights, according to Scotland Morrison, head of staff at Urban Abbey.
Urban Abbey manages a 25-bed women’s shelter in downtown Port Arthur and an additional 25-bed shelter on the south side during winter, welcoming all individuals in need. Close coordination with Shelter House, Grace Place, and Salvation Army facilitates the distribution of shelter beds as demand increases.
Grace Place’s Out of the Cold program offers 25 beds from October to April, while Shelter House provides 62 beds with 10 overflow spaces. Melody Macsemchuk, operations manager at Grace Place, anticipates full occupancy this winter following last season’s 4,619 stays.
Morrison foresees Urban Abbey operating at full capacity due to the growing number of tent cities in the area. Despite the impending weather changes, many individuals are expected to seek local shelter.
In contrast, the city’s proposed 80-unit temporary shelter village faces further delays, with Councilor Rajni Agarwal proposing its removal from the city’s plans. Agarwal noted that the village would not be ready for this winter due to ongoing site selection delays.
Morrison sees the shelter village as a potential solution to alleviate pressure on existing shelters, providing additional space and support for clients. Unlike emergency shelters where clients must leave in the morning, the shelter village would offer a more extended stay option.
The fate of the shelter village project will be decided in two weeks following standard council procedures. If implemented, the village could offer relief to the strained shelter system and improve living conditions for those in need.
