Sudbury's first overnight warming centre saw 50 people most nights this winter

Sudbury's first overnight warming centre has just closed after a busy winter and it's already putting more pressure on the city's homeless shelters.

Lisa Arlt, who manages the Healing with Hope program and shelter services at the Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury/Manitoulin, says their 35-cot overnight shelter is full every night.

"Some nights we can range from one to two turnaways," said Arlt.

"Most recently, with the warming stations closing just last night alone, I believe we had 10 to 12 turnaways."

Since November, they had been able to send people over to the warming centre in Energy Court, off Lorne Street, in the trailer that was once home to Sudbury's safe drug consumption site. 

"When we hit max capacity, we were able to contact the warming station and divert people over there," Arlt said.

"So at least that way, during the coldest time of the season, people weren't suffering to the elements."

The city contracted local non-profit the Go-Give project to run the warming centre from November until the end of April, allowing people to get out of the cold, but not sleep overnight. 

Executive director Evie Ali said the centre hosted up to 50 people a night — and on the coldest evenings, as many as 70 to 80.

"There was lots of learning and growing… just as far as mitigating certain situations and behaviours," Ali said.

She explained that while community partnerships with the city, the Greater Sudbury Police and other organizations helped ease the launch, the reality of bringing so many people into one space created challenges.

"People are cold, they're hungry, they've been facing the elements all day," Ali said. "So when they come into that space, and then there are rules and boundaries that have to be followed, it can sometimes create situations that may or may not escalate."

Despite the tensions, Ali said the warming centre didn't experience any major incidents, overdoses, or service bans throughout the season.

Arlt said she would love to see more shelters in the city, but acknowledged that expanding capacity comes down to funding.

"I think the more opportunities that individuals have to get off the street, to seek shelter, to seek a warm meal, to seek a place to be able to put up their feet and dry off their socks and their boots is safer all around," she said.