Windsor expands shelter system with overnight emergency spaces, 73 new warming centres

Windsor city council has approved turning the Windsor Homelessness and Housing Help Hub into an overnight emergency shelter and adding six dozen warming centres to the region's shelter system.

The decision comes as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Windsor and Essex County continues to rise, particularly with winter approaching.

A report presented to councillors Monday shows that the By Names Prioritized List (BNPL) for October 2024 identifies 902 "households" experiencing homelessness in Windsor-Essex.

That represents a 26 per cent increase compared to October 2023.

In this context, a "household" refers to a single person, couple or family with dependent children.

The report also highlights:

• An eight per cent rise in the number of unique individuals staying at emergency shelters (1,632 in 2023 vs. 1,765 in 2024).
• A 58 per cent jump in "households" sleeping outdoors most of the time (178 in 2023 vs. 282 in 2024).
• A 43 per cent increase in the average length of shelter stays (35 days in 2023 vs. 50 days in 2024).

"We're seeing more seniors enter homelessness for the first time. We're also beginning to see folks who are gainfully employed in low-paying jobs enter into homelessness as well," said Kelly Goz, manager of homelessness and housing support for the City of Windsor.

To address the growing demand, councillors approved adding 73 new warming spaces to the regional shelter system.

Windsor's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4) will accommodate 35 of these spaces, which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting in January.

Earlier this year, Windsor's Strengthen the Core plan expanded H4's operating hours from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., seven days a week, including holidays. The newly approved 35 warming spaces at H4 will operate from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m.

The remaining 38 overnight spaces will be allocated to the Salvation Army, the Welcome Centre for Women and Families and the Essex County Homelessness Hub. These spaces are expected to open as early as next week.

"So that frees up the capacity for people who are experiencing homelessness and are outside during the wintertime, so they have a warm place to go to," said Andrew Daher, Windsor's commissioner of human and health services.

Some councillors expressed frustration that such measures are necessary.

"Some of the data that's revealed in the report is not shocking anymore. It's sad," said Ward 9 councillor Kieran McKenzie.

The report also showed that shelter capacity throughout the year neared 100 per cent.

In 2024, the average emergency shelter occupancy rate — the portion of beds or rooms in use on any given night — was 95 per cent, up from 89 per cent in 2023.

The region has 187 emergency shelter beds or rooms available for people experiencing homelessness, according to the report.

Goz noted that many of these beds are occupied by individuals caught in long-term homelessness cycles.

"Of the over 900 households experiencing homelessness, roughly about 70 or 75 per cent are experiencing chronic homelessness," said Goz.

"So that could be anywhere from 18 months to over three years of homelessness."

She said people who lack proper landlord references or steady employment often struggle to get back on their feet.

When asked about the primary driver of the homelessness crisis, Daher pointed to the cost of living.

"But there is no doubt that we are in a mental health and addiction crisis in our community, and really across the entirety of Canada. All municipalities are facing this and that's making it even more complex," said Daher.