'We will get you a bed,' councillor vows as shelters pause admissions

With Ottawa in the grip of a cold snapand four overnight shelters turning away new clients, one city councillor is vowing no one in need of a bed will be denied a warm place to sleep.

"We really don't want people out in the cold," Orlans Coun. Matthew Luloff, who chairsthe city's community and protective services committee, told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morningon Monday. "We want to take care of you."

• 4 Ottawa shelters pause new admissions to reduce COVID-19 spread

In the wake of multiple cases of COVID-19 at local shelters, the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre, Shepherds of Good Hope, Cornerstone Housing for Women and The Ottawa Mission have all paused intakes in an effort to prevent further spread of the illness.

The bottom line is, you do not have to sleep in the cold.- Coun. Matthew Luloff

According to a joint news release, further testing is planned at all emergency shelters in the upcoming days.

Luloff said people canstill visit one of the city's three respite centres to warm up and eat at the Tom Brown Arena near Bayview station, Bernard GrandmaitreArena on McArthur Avenueand St. Paul's Eastern United Church in Sandy Hill.

People can sleep at the Tom Brown site until further notice.

Luloff didn't say where otheralternative beds might be, but the city does sequesterhotel rooms to provide alternative shelter for thosein need, including families.

"The bottom line is, you do not have to sleep in the cold. We will get you a bed," he promised.

Luloff saidoutreach teams are actively looking for people who may need help finding a place to stay, but who haven't come asking yet.

The city currently operates physical distancing centres attheDempsey Community Centre on Russell Road for men, and at 240 Friel St. in Lowertownfor women. The city also runs an isolation centre for single homeless people atthe Patro d'OttawaonCobourg Street.

A shelter at 75 Nicholas St. is currently operating as an isolation centrebut will soon transition into another physical distancing centre, according to the city.

"We are also looking to expand that capacity as well," Luloffsaid, adding that vaccinating people in "congregate settings" is the city's "next priority."