New warming centre offers 10 more beds in Barrie

A homeless person sits on the sidewalk trying to stay warm in this undated file image.

The new Tiffin Street Warming Centre will accept 10 people desperate to get out of the cold on Monday.

When temperatures drop to below -10C, people can visit 113 Tiffin Street at the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services base.

The temperature-activated warming centre will operate up to seven nights a week, 24 hours a day.

The Tiffin Street shelter is the second new dedicated warming centre to open in Barrie this winter funded by the County of Simcoe.

Other warming centres in the community include the Barrie East and the Salvation Army warming centres.

On Friday, the county and its partners announced another new overnight warming centre in Wasaga Beach, totaling six county-funded warming centres across the region.

While using the warming centres, visitors can also access support to find shelter, housing, healthcare, and other services and supports. These services are part of a larger effort to help more individuals gain access social and wellness-related assistance and help them move to other levels of housing.