Salvation Army provides rooms for couples living rough; Temporarily expands shelter capacity

In the midst of ongoing challenges to meet the need of those experiencing homelessness, the Salvation Army Windsor Centre of Hope is trying a model to keep couples together.

Typically, the shelter setting can physically separate couples due to defined areas for men and women.

Since the start of February, the Centre of Hope has offered five private rooms for couples to find reprieve from the cold.

“So, our thought is to bring them together so we’re dealing with that sense of isolation we’re affording them a sense of dignity,” said Jason Linton, executive director of the centre. “It becomes a little bit easier for us to work with them, in terms of transitioning to the next steps and that being affordable housing.”

Through funding from the City of Windsor, the Salvation Army has temporarily expanded its services until the end of March,

In addition to rooms for couples, 20 new emergency shelter beds have been established in the chapel, and rooms for men with pets are available.

The Salvation Army already provides a 32-bed emergency shelter.

“Over the winter, it’s been at capacity or very close to capacity, so we were at a point where we were turning people away and unfortunately, sending them to other shelters that exist in the community,” Linton said.

To extend the service in future or months, or see it return ahead of next winter, Linton said its his hope the Salvation Army will see additional funding to provide beds for those in need.