Hastings County has voted to open it’s warming centres earlier this year in an effort to support the local homeless population.
The decision was made during Wednesday’s meeting of the Community and Human Services Committee.
Warming shelters will now be available two weeks earlier, from December 1st in Bancroft, Belleville, and Quinte West. Running the warming shelters for the extra time will cost an additional $70,000.
The move follows a recommendation from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health to activate warming centres when temperatures reach -5 celsius. They recommend the warming centres be open because hypothermia can still be a risk even at mild cold temperatures for those without shelter.
That same recommendation also calls for daytime shelters when temperatures fall below -10 degrees.
