10 overnight winter beds open at My Sister's Place as work continues on remaining spaces

Ten additional overnight winter beds became available in the city on Monday, providing some additional respite from the cold weather for London's most vulnerable.

The women-only spaces opened to the public around 9:30 p.m. Monday at My Sister's Place, located at 566 Dundas St., operated by Ark Aid Street Mission.

They're among120 overnight spaces Ark Aid is set to rununtil May 31 as part of the city's cold weather response to homelessness. Thirty beds opened late last month at its main Dundas Street location.

Twenty-five of the beds, including those at My Sister's Place, are run in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley. There are 15 beds at CMHA Coffee House on Hamilton Road which will open on Dec. 18.

"We provide services throughout the day until 9:30 at night, so it's very exciting that some of the women who are going to be here during the day will be able to come upstairs and stay here overnight," said Karna Trentman, director of community programs for CMHA Thames Valley.

The new overnight space occupies a large room on the third floor of the shelter, with 10 reclining chairs that can lie flat, allowing someone to sleep. Each chair had a pillow and blanket, topped off with a small toiletries bag.

"People can sleep, but sometimes people will come for a few hours, and then they'll leave and go out and do something else and come back," Trentman said.

My Sister's Place sees between 100 and 150 women every day accessing its daytime services. Given the level of need in the community, Trentman said she wouldn't be surprised if more space was needed on top of what opened Monday.

"That's kind of the capacity of this space for now, but we're quite excited that the overnight spaces are going to be happening in Bishop Cronyn, it's just around the corner."

There are 65 overnight spaces set to open at the former William Street church in mid-January. During a council meeting last month, six councillors voted against funding the space, voicing concern about building readiness and the cost of the overall cold weather response plan.

In addition to the 120 overnight spaces, costing around $3 million, the city is alsoproviding $2.6 million to six agenciesfor drop-in services and outreach programs into the spring.

"I think anytime you're opening new locations for such a dire need in our community, it's difficult for neighbours and the community to accept that we have this much need," said Sarah Campbell, the executive director of Ark Aid.

"We know that the community at large are concerned that even with (the winter) spaces, plus what already exists Salvation Army, Men's Mission, Centre of Hope, and Safe Space that there's still just not enough room for the numbers of people who need indoor shelter this winter."

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An estimated 2,000 people are living unhoused in London, with a number living in outdoor encampments, many along the river.

The winter spaces were set to replaceservice depotsthat had operated to help encampment residents. However, city officials say they'll remain open with some changes.

Two depots in Wellington Valley Park and Watson Street Park will be combined, while one located in Ann Street Park will be maintained.

"The Cavendish (Park) depot is being wound down and those encamping there are being redirected to other indoor resources, trying to get folks inside some of those cold weather response beds," said Kevin Dickens, deputy city manager of social and health development.

The move to close down the Cavendish Park depot came after talks between the city and frontline agencies about operational challenges heading into winter, he said. Many encampments are in areas not typically cleared of snow.

It's not clear exactly how many people will live in encampments during the winter. A report from city staff in October signalled a need to invest in additional supports, such as clothing and hand and foot warmers.

Fire officialshave askedthat those in encampments avoid lighting fires to stay warm, citing a risk to safety.

The cold weather response is the interim plan as the larger whole of community response to homelessness system comes online. The plan is to open 10 to 15 hubs providing basic needs and stable housing support.

Dickens says Youth Opportunities Unlimited opened one hub with respite beds at the start of the month. The city is also planning to create 100 highly supportive housing units by the end of 2023, and 600 in three years.

There are now 69 beds open; 25 through London Cares and London Health Sciences Centre, and 44 through a partnership between the city and Indwell.