The overnight winter Warming Room at 555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg, has now been open for two weeks, serving an average of 15 people per night. Over 50 individuals have accessed this service, to date.
Northumberland County and the Town of Cobourg continue to work closely together to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors who rely on this space.
The Warming Room, located in Committee Room A at Northumberland County Headquarters, opened on November 27 and operates nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. through March 31, 2026.
The space provides a warm, safe, indoor location for individuals experiencing homelessness, with access to washrooms, seating, and light refreshments.
Because the Warming Room is located in a government building, which is not designed to include sleeping accommodations, provincial and local regulations, such as building code, fire code, and zoning, impact how the room can be used. For this reason, the room is not set up for sleeping, but instead for rest, with tables and chairs available. While visitors are no longer required to remain awake, staff do conduct regular wellness checks that can be disruptive to continuous sleep. For meaningful rest in designated sleeping facilities, individuals are encouraged to access shelter services at 310 Division Street, Cobourg.
“Our priority, in hosting the Warming Room, is to offer a safe space where people can seek respite from the cold, ensuring the health, safety, and dignity of residents facing the harsh realities of homelessness,” says County Warden Brian Ostrander.
“While the Warming Room is necessarily set up as a drop-in warming space, we know how essential uninterrupted sleep is for physical and mental well-being; staff encourage visitors seeking this type of service to check availability at the 310 Division Street shelter.”
“Our approach has always been ensuring that the Warming Room operates safely, responsibly, and in the best interests of the people who depend on it, as well as the surrounding community,” states Town of Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland.
For more information about Warming Room services, visit Northumberland.ca/Shelter.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
