Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Dec. 11, 2023 – Does Burlington Have Warming Centres?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Dec. 11, 2023QUESTION:"How does the City of Burlington and Region of Halton protect those in need during extreme cold weather events?”ANSWER:Cold warnings are issued by Halton Region during any of the following weather conditions:

• Daily predicted low of -15°C without wind chill
• Environment and Climate Change Canada issues an Extreme Cold Warning for outdoor activity when temperature or wind chill reach -30°C for at least 2 consecutive hours

When a cold warning is issued by Halton Region, the City of Burlington provides warming centres at our Burlington Public Library branches during business hours (these also function as cooling centres during hot weather events). Notice is provided on the City's dedicated webpage here: https://www.burlington.ca/Modules/News/en/Weather#Cold-Weather. Members of the public can stay warm at designated at a library branch, and pets may come inside with their owners to stay warm too.Notices are also provided on the City's News and Notices page, in conjunction with the cold weather alert. Members of the public can subscribe to receive the notices directly to their email when a new notice is posted.You can also learn more about how to stay warm and safe in the winter months and sign up to receive cold alerts from Halton Region at www.halton.ca/coldAfter Hours & OvernightAfter hours and overnight, Halton Region has agreements with local motels to provide emergency shelter until more permanent housing can be secured for any individual in need.The Region also operates a shelter for women and children (located in Burlington) and a shelter for men (located in Oakville) that serve all of Halton residents. We've addressed the issue of supports and shelter for people who are experiencing homelessness in past Mayor's Monday Mailbags, see these links:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Nov. 13, 2023 – Homelessness Encampments & Supports Available
• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Jan. 9, 2023 – Are There Any Support Services for the Homeless in Burlington?

Halton Regional staff also recently provided an update to Regional Council on Homelessness and Encampments in Halton.This method of providing temporary accommodation for homeless individuals in need in Halton provides privacy, comfort and dignity for the individual in need, who will also be connected to all other wrap-around services Halton provides. We provide this service year round, 24/7, 365 days, in hot and cold weather, and is a more comprehensive, specialized response to individuals in need than a temporary centre can provide.If you know someone who is homeless and needs assistance, please direct them to 311 or accesshalton@halton.ca for assistance. After hours, you can contact the Halton Regional Police Services non-emergency line at 905-825-4777 and they will dispatch their Community Outreach And Support Team (COAST) to contact the individual and offer available supports.City and Regional Council fund and vote on these supports through our annual budget discussions at both tables. The budget books, showing library investments (at the city), as well as homelessness prevention (at the region), are available online. In-year operational deployment of these resources are not voted on separately by council, but simply deployed by staff once we approve their budgets.

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RELATED LINKS:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Dec. 4, 2023 – How Can I Get Updates on Snow-Clearing in Burlington?
• Mayor’s Mailbag – November 2023 Roundup – Taxi, Rideshare Update; Homelessness Supports; Union Burying Ground Update; & Public Park Washrooms
• Mayor’s Mailbag – October 2023 Roundup – Tyandaga Golf Course; MTSA Plans Update; & Public Engagement Dates for 2024 Budget
• Mayor’s Mailbag – September 2023 Roundup – Bateman Public Engagement; & Home Construction & Renovation Projects Webpage
• Mayor’s Mailbag – August 2023 Roundup – What is Oak Wilt; & Support in Finding Childcare
• Mayor’s Mailbag – July 2023 Roundup – Bird Eggs in LaSalle Park; & Cooling Centres
• Mayor’s Mailbag – June 2023 Roundup – Mountainside Pool Reopening; Dissolution of Peel Region; & Bateman Redevelopment Project Updates
• Mayor’s Mailbag – May 2023 Roundup – Beachway Free Parking Pass; Twin-City Agreements; & ‘TellCityHall’ Automated Calls
• Mayor’s Mailbag – April 2023 Roundup – Parking Permit Program Update; Spring Cleanup; & Mayor’s Chamber Award Update
• Mayor’s Mailbag – March 2023 Roundup – Recognizing a Cause/Event, Burlington City Crest, & Windrows/Snow-Clearing
• Mayor’s Mailbag – February 2023 Roundup – City Winter Service Levels, Tax Support for Seniors on Fixed Incomes, & Support Accessing Recreation Programs
• Mayor’s Mailbag – January 2023 Roundup – Mental Health Resources, Arts & Culture Fund, & Homelessness Support
• Mayor’s Mailbag – December 2022 Roundup – Bill 23, Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund, & Winter Storm Updates