A glimpse inside new respite centre
Liberty Village home to first of three 24-hour winter shelters funded by the city
The Christmas tree was trimmed, the cots were set out and every surface was liberally splashed with holy water during the blessing of the new cold-weather respite centre in Liberty Village.
The ceremony of sorts was hosted by supporters of the St. Felix Centre community, among them staff, volunteers, the Felician Sisters and a priest, to mark the opening of one of what will be three city-funded, 24-7 winter respite sites.
The first will open on Saturday and is run by St. Felix. There are cots for 100 people, showers, large bathrooms and tables where people can socialize,
enjoy food or a hot drink. When the Star toured the site on Thursday, staff had put out Christmas decorations and were working to warm up the 9,000-square-foot space.
“We are trying to take the respite standards and operationalize them in a way that is maximizing the comfort and effectiveness of the guests at the centre,” said Brian Harris, executive director of St. Felix, who said everything would be in its proper place by Saturday. “I believe we can have both.”
Mayor John Tory praised St. Felix for getting the site ready in “record time” during a sit-down interview with the Star’s David Rider on Thursday and said he was confident the city was ready to meet the need of vulnerable people who may seek shelter from the cold.
“The prime objective here is to certainly never have a loss of life but also to prevent people from being harmed by excessive exposure to the cold or generally unacceptable living conditions,” Tory said.
Harris said housing and case workers, as well as crisis counsellors, will be on site and staff are trained in overdose prevention.
“I think it is good that there are more purpose-built resources like this to address those immediate needs of people who need to get off the street right now,” Harris said. “But I am hopeful that it doesn’t overshadow the need for longer term, more permanent solutions to our problem.”
St. Felix has run a temporary 24-7 winter respite site out of its Augusta Ave. headquarters since 2014. People and their pets are welcome at both the new location and Augusta. Harris said residents of Liberty Village have offered to volunteer and sent donations; people who want to help can learn more on the St. Felix website.
The other two respite structures will be run by Fred Victor and Dixon Hall and are expected to be open by the end of January. The spacious and welloutfitted domes are a big change from the haphazard approach taken in years past.
Health Providers Against Poverty, in a report released last year, revealed that conditions in some winter respite sites were cramped and unsanitary, with limited access to toilets and showers. They must now operate by city-approved standards.
Last winter, the Better Living Centre was opened as a warming site, with space for 200 people. During a record-breaking cold snap, some people were incorrectly told no room was available. City ombudsman Susan Opler later determined city staff provided “obsolete” and “incorrect” information and those mistakes exposed “serious shortcomings” in the shelter system. The city rushed to resolve those problems and implement new standards.
“I am hopeful that it doesn’t overshadow the need for longer term, more permanent solutions to our problem.” BRIAN HARRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ST. FELIX