Emergency shelter at Welland Tennis Club now closed as weather warms up

Niagara | Welland | Community |

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Published March 30, 2023 at 1:14 pm

The Welland Tennis Club at 45 Hooker Street was turned into a five-bed homeless shelter during February and March.

The emergency shelter that was set up at the Welland Tennis Club has now been closed for the season.

When Welland Council turned the facility at 45 Hooker Street into a five-bed shelter, it also said it would only operate on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the months of February and March.

Sunday (March 26) was the temporary shelter’s last day.

During its two-month span, the shelter saw 22 homeless people come for 89 stays, averaging three per night even though there were five beds available.

Welland City Council gave $9,000 for this new shelter back on January 17 and will now have staff come back with a report, detailing the emergency measure with a comprehensive review.

The two-month shelter was a pilot project – one that has previously been turned down at Welland Council meetings in previous years – so that the current council could watch its effectiveness to see if it can be expanded in the future.

Partnering in the pilot project is the group, Beyond the Streets, which helps the homeless with hot meals and their own outreach program.

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