Northumberland County Council Approves Trailer Purchase for Warming Room
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Though questions remain about the warming room proposed for 2026-2027, Northumberland County councillors agreed at this week’s meeting they are ahead of where they were last year – when they didn’t allow enough lead time, and a hasty solution was found in using a council committee room for the purpose.
On Wednesday, they received a report from Manager of Homelessness Services Bill Smith suggesting a 24/7 operation that allows sleeping, as opposed to their usual overnight-only model that does not permit sleeping.
“This model would also allow for more community, integration and increase available services to be offered, protecting individuals from the elements and reducing the visibility of homelessness in community,” the report said.
This aspect of the report was not commented on, but its suggestion to purchase a construction-type trailer for the purpose occasioned lengthy debate – especially in light of Warden Bob Crate’s recent resurrection of the proposal to use space at Building 18 on D’Arcy Street in Cobourg at this month’s meeting of council’s Social Services Committee.
Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland originated the idea, but the building is not vacant. While the second floor is empty, the committee heard, ground-floor tenants are two groups traditionally considered as somewhat vulnerable – Northumberland Youth For Christ and a program for the cognitively impaired run by the Victorian Order of Nurses.
While Youth For Christ was not mentioned at council this week, Chief Administrative Officer Dan Borowec reported that conversations have been held with VON on whether they would be interested in seeking alternative accommodation, They would not, he said, but they haven’t closed the door on some kind of partnership arrangement, such as possibly sharing the cost of an elevator and some kind of space- or service-sharing agreement.
“Accessibility to the second floor is a critical factor,” Borowec declared.
“We are trying to do this as quickly as possible because we are facing timelines,” he added, referring to the last-minute rush prior to the bitter 2025-2026 winter season that ended up with a hastily implemented solution. Because of that urgency, Borowec saw a backstop in another option in Smith’s report – the purchase or lease of a construction trailer to set up on the grounds of the Golden Plough Lodge for the purpose.
No need for an immediate purchase, Borowec added, but approvals to proceed (if necessary) are required.
Displaying photos of what this might look like, Borowec said “modular accommodation” might be a better term. The 50×20-foot unit displayed has 900 sq.ft. of usable space with moveable interior walls.
“We are up against it in terms of timeline for mobile accommodation. We have two things running in parallel. A lot depends on the next discussion with VON to see if there is an opportunity to find solutions to the accessibility matter,” Borowec stated.
Given that the next county council meeting is in August, he insisted that the backstop of the trailer is necessary.
Councillor Scott Jibb asked if there might be any savings with arranging a rental instead of a purchase
“When you rent, there’s delivery, set-up and take-away. The price is about the same,” Smith said.
“The county would have an asset, and we could sell it later when it is no longer needed.”
Or, Councillor Olena Hankivsky noted, potentially relocate it and fit it out for residential purposes, an addition to the housing stock.
Cleveland urged council to forget the trailer, and proceed this winter at Building 18 on a pilot-project basis.
“It’s a ridiculous concept to think about spending this much money on a trailer as opposed to putting this money in a facility that is long-term,” he insisted.
The motion that came before council noted that, while county staff are reviewing long-term strategies for Building 18, approval is granted for an upset limit of $350,000 for the trailer’s purchase and set-up for the 2026-2027 winter season.
Smith’s report cited quotes from multiple companies for a 24×60-foot unit. For a warming room on a 24/7 basis, the budget calls for $350,000 for the purchase and associated costs such as lease of a washroom trailer, connection and set up, construction fencing, and security equipment. Staffing would be approximately $270,000, and food and programming expenses about $30,000.
The motion did not mention Smith’s 24/7 operational proposal.
