WINDSOR, ONT. City of Windsor officials say 35 people received shelter at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre since it opened as a temporary emergency shelter last week. On Friday, city and frontline Downtown Mission staff, along with community partners, helped relocate residents of the mission to the temporary shelter or one of two Isolation and Recovery Centres (IRC). The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issued an order on Feb. 19 to the Downtown Mission restricting access to new clients, city staff, support agency workers due to a COVID-19 outbreak. On Feb. 25, WECHU said there were 81 cases of the virus linked to the mission and 34 cases connected to the Salvation Army.
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After an “unprecedented amount of work” to convert the downtown aquatic centre into a temporary emergency shelter in a matter of days, displaced homeless people began moving in on Thursday.
“This has been an incredible undertaking by all involved, and I want to congratulate everyone on the work done,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said of the quick reaction following COVID-19 outbreaks at the Downtown Mission and Salvation Army and a resulting order issued by the medical officer of health severely restricting the mission’s Victoria Avenue operation.
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A temporary emergency shelter at the downtown pool is now open.
Within five days of an order issued by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to the Downtown Mission restricting access to new clients, City staff, support agency workers, and a team of carpenters have transformed the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre into a temporary emergency shelter.
The temporary emergency shelter will provide individuals experiencing homelessness with a safe, well-controlled place to stay. It will allow the Mission to focus on its operations and comply with the conditions of the health unit’s order so it may be lifted and they can safely and effectively resume operations.
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A temporary shelter will open at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre to help support vulnerable populations after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared at the Downtown Mission, forcing the closure of its shelter locations.