Northumberland County council has voted to close the 24/7 warming and cooling hub at Cobourg’s 310 Division St. shelter by July 4, and begin transitioning the site into a high-barrier facility that will focus on serving lower to moderate acuity individuals.
The decision follows a packed town hall earlier this week where residents, business owners, and people with lived experience shared concerns and suggestions about the shelter’s operation. Council’s motion also directs staff to explore relocating the drop-in hub to a different site in Northumberland and outside of Cobourg, unless on Northumberland County or hospital property.
While some services will continue at the 310 location, including access for couples and individuals with pets, the overall goal is to introduce stricter rules and accountability, in line with a high-barrier model. Council also instructed staff to renegotiate the service agreement with Transition House, the shelter’s operator.
A detailed plan on how the facility will transition to its new model is expected to be delivered at the July 30 social services committee meeting, including budget, staffing, and service delivery details.
The changes aim to balance community safety with continued support for vulnerable residents, and reflect a shift in how shelter services will be delivered in Cobourg and across the county, meeting attendees heard.
A copy of the motion passed on June 18 is below:
Main Motion:
“That County Council, having considered Report 2025-139 ‘Options for Sheltering Models for 310 Division Street’ and Closed Session Report 2025-148 ‘Implications to Proposed Sheltering Model Options’, direct staff to proceed with implementing 310 Division Street, Cobourg to be a higher barrier shelter that focuses on serving lower to moderate acuity individuals; and
Further That County Council direct that despite the foregoing, the shelter at 310 Division Street, Cobourg continue to accommodate couples and to permit individuals with pets to access shelter services; and
Further That County Council direct staff to proceed with an implementation timeline of July 4, 2025 in order to close the drop-in 24/7 warming and cooling hub (commonly referred to as the 310 Hub); and
Further That County Council direct staff to provide notice to Transition House and authorize staff to renegotiate the contract and service agreement with Transition House; and
Further That County Council direct staff to provide a report at the July 30, 2025 Social Services Committee meeting regarding the timeline, budget, implementation plan, and operational expectations of transitioning 310 Division Street, Cobourg to serving lower to moderate acuity individuals; and
Further That County Council direct staff to report back to Committee / Council at a future meeting date with options for permanently relocating the 24/7 warming and cooling hub drop-in centre to another neighbourhood within Northumberland County that is outside of the Town of Cobourg, unless located on Northumberland County or hospital property.”
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
