The Cooperative Care Centre (CCC) in Brockville, Ontario, a 24-bed shelter serving people experiencing homelessness for five years, has permanently closed. John Goldsmith, 63, who relied on the centre, described it as a “godsend” and expressed heartbreak over its closure. A last-minute effort to secure city funding to keep the facility open until the end of March failed.
Officials with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (UCLG) have pointed to other supportive housing beds in the area and mentioned a potential overnight warming centre that could open January 1, though details remain unclear. Outreach worker Laurie Hunter said many CCC residents, particularly seniors with serious medical conditions, are uncertain where they will go now. She expressed concern for their safety during harsh Canadian winter conditions.
Pastor Roger March, who served meals at the CCC and local encampments, praised the staff and warned that without adequate alternatives, homelessness and encampments in the area could increase. Goldsmith said he has temporary shelter while working on renovations but is unsure of his long-term housing options.
The closure leaves a vulnerable population without a reliable place to stay, highlighting gaps in local homelessness supports. Residents who considered the CCC home now face an uncertain and potentially dangerous winter, with limited faith in existing services to meet their needs.
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