Windsor’s warming bus initiative comes to an end after 55 days on the road
A warming bus initiative meant to help people experiencing homelessness in Windsor has come to an end.
The temporary service was launched on Feb. 23, 2024 thanks to $1.1 million in one-time federal funding from the Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy Program.
“The initiative first started out being a warming bus initiative ensuring that people had a warm place to stay during the night. But clearly we also wanted to take it to the next level and ensure that they were being provided with support in our community, whether it be housing supports or health needs,” said Andrew Daher, human and health services commissioner at the City of Windsor.
In the 55 days since the program launched, more than 1,800 individuals used the unique service, according to Daher.
The warming bus initiative was a partnership between the City of Windsor’s Human and Health Services Department, Transit Windsor and the Downtown Mission.
“We're hoping that the federal government will come back next year around the exact same time and provide the same winter funding,” Daher said.
The program saw a designated Transit Windsor bus run on a predetermined route that started and finished at the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4), targeting core areas of the city, as well as stopping at emergency shelters and other drop-in programs with extended hours.
“We had two individuals that used the bus every single day and once the staff started coordinating and engaging with them, they found that they were developing a friendship,” Daher explained. “And after that friendship, guess what happened? We were able to connect them into some market rental supportive housing that now they're both living in. They're off the street. They're no longer homeless and they're actually sharing a two bedroom apartment.”
“A 17 year old came onto the bus for the first time and when the staff started engaging with that individual, we found out that he was homeless for about five days. Literally, within 24 hours, we were able to get him connected into housing, and now he's been supported in our community, and quite frankly, these are the type of stories that we should be focusing on,” he continued.
“We need to continue to piggyback off the successes,” added Daher. “These successes can now transform into the revitalization strategies that the mayor and council just brought forward as part of the downtown revitalization.”
Daher said even though the initiative was a success, paying for it to continue would not be sustainable.
“Unfortunately, just to do the cost of it, it's not sustainable on the municipal tax base, and if I was given a million dollars or so to actually do any type of initiative, I would be focusing on permanent supportive housing," he said. "That's what we need in our community.”
“We got $1.1 million for federal funding and not all of it went to this initiative. We provided some crash mats for the Downtown Mission. We also extended the hours for all three of our shelters, so that's what that funding was used for,” Daher said.
“I think it went really well,” added Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, executive director of the Downtown Mission. “I'm really thankful that it provided opportunities for people to access some sort of shelter.”
“I think the greater win was that we were able to connect people with other services in the community, whether it be at night or during the day for ongoing support and just moving forward in life for individuals who are ready for that,” continued Ponniah-Goulin. “Obviously, we would hope that in the future that because of the success we saw this time around, and it was a very short time around from when the funds actually came to us, that hopefully next year, next winter that we would be able to see something like this happen again.”
Daher noted a potential strike at Transit Windsor prevented the initiative from launching sooner than it did.
Ponniah-Goulin said, “There were some days and weeks that it was pretty cold and it was definitely a warming bus at that time or for those nights. But yeah, absolutely. If we are able to do something like this again in the future, obviously we would hope we would be able to do it earlier.”
“It's definitely worth looking into for next year and future winters,” Ponniah-Goulin added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
Debunking the 'anti-sunscreen' movement: Doctors say TikTok trend is dangerous
Dermatologists are sounding the alarm about misinformation from the anti-sunscreen movement, saying not wearing sunscreen can cause cancer and other problems.
Three people shot to death in tiny South Dakota town; former mayor charged
Three people were shot to death in a small South Dakota town, and a former law officer who once served as the town's mayor is charged in the killings.
Poilievre Conservatives offer to help Trudeau Liberals pass foreign interference bill
Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party is offering to help Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government pass a piece of legislation aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
Ont. university says professor fired over 'unethical' sexual relationships with students
An associate professor at McMaster University has been fired after its board of governors found that he engaged in 'unethical, inappropriate and in some instances exploitative' sexual relationships with students.
Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize
The actor Richard Dreyfuss showed up in a dress at a 'Jaws'-themed event in Massachusetts, where the blockbuster 1975 movie he starred in was shot, and then proceeded to make demeaning remarks about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity.
'Son of Sam' killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attempt
'Son of Sam' killer David Berkowitz, who set New York City on edge with late-night shootings in the 1970s, was denied parole after his twelfth board appearance.
DEVELOPING Trump prosecutor focuses on 'cover-up' in closing arguments while defence attacks key witness
Donald Trump's landmark hush money trial turns on the testimony of a prosecution witness who told lies on the stand and cannot be trusted, a defence lawyer said Tuesday during closing arguments.