City of Peterborough Provides Overflow Shelter Bed Program Update

The City of Peterborough has updated the Overflow Shelter Bed Program.

File Photo.

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program at 210 Wolfe St. will temporarily relocate to the Peterborough Public Library starting Thursday to allow renovations to begin on the Wolfe Street building. It will be converted into a service hub for people experiencing homelessness who will be living in a new Modular Bridge Housing community. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program will operate overnight in the lower level of the Library from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, outside of the regular business hours of the Library at 345 Aylmer St. N., temporarily until the new winter overnight drop-in space operated by One City at Trinity Centre opens this fall. 

With progress underway on the construction and installation of the Modular Bridge Housing community at the Rehill Parking Lot on Wolfe Street, preparations will start on the new hub for homelessness services that will be in the building that is currently used for the Overflow Shelter Bed Program at 210 Wolfe St. 

Occupancy of the Modular Bridge Housing community with 50 units is expected in the fall. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program will continue to operate as an overnight emergency shelter used when the main shelters are at capacity.  

There are 106 shelter beds in the shelter system, which includes the three main shelters – Brock Mission, Cameron House, and the YES Shelter – and the Overflow Shelter Bed Program. The Overflow Shelter has 32 beds. Over the last week, an average of four beds have been used and 28 are available at the Overflow Shelter nightly.

Last week, One City and the City of Peterborough announced that they have entered into a three-year agreement for One City to operate a winter overnight drop-in space at the Trinity Centre in the former Trinity United Church at 360 Reid St. One City is completing renovations of its space. When One City opens the winter overnight drop-in space, the Overflow Shelter Bed Program will be closed. There will be no gap in service during the transition between the two programs. 

The winter overnight drop-in space is part of a winter homelessness response strategy and a broader homelessness services plan approved by City Council. 

In addition to the winter overnight drop-in space, One City will operate a year-round daytime drop-in centre. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program temporarily operated at the Peterborough Public Library from July 2019 to February 2020, when it relocated to the Murray Street Baptist Church before moving to its current location in a former office building at 210 Wolfe St. in February 2021. 

To access emergency shelter, individuals can use the contact information provided below: 

  • Brock Mission for men, 217 Murray St., 705-748-4766, ext. 1 

  • Cameron House for women, 738 Chemong Rd., 705-748-4766, ext. 2 

  • YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 196 Brock St., 705-748-3851 

  • Overflow Shelter Bed Program, when the main shelters are full, 345 Aylmer St. N. starting September 21 

Individuals without a phone can visit the Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. to connect with available shelter services. 

Individuals can call 705-926-0096 for shelter services outside of regular office hours.

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