The future is a bit clearer for the COVID-19 low barrier shelter.

At a special meeting on Monday, the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board agreed to continue services for 12 hours a day, at the future location for the transitional housing program at 590 Chippewa Street West.

The plan includes the use of a portable building during the pandemic.

Officials say it will take up to three weeks to prepare the new site.

An alternate site or extension of the current homeless shelter site at Pete Palangio Arena will be needed up to July 31st.

They say all government funding for the current shelter will be exhausted by July 7th so the Board has agreed to a budget of up to $100,000 monthly in available one-time operating funding to December 31st.

“There is no change in the need for an emergency COVID responsive shelter given the continuing pandemic,” says DNSSAB Chair Mark King. “There also remains a clear need for a permanent low barrier shelter facility to house the homeless,” King adds.

DNSSAB will also continue to advocate strongly for continued provincial and federal financial support for the homeless during this pandemic and will pursue creative solutions for the future.

 

(File photo by Jeff Turl/BayToday.ca)