The warming centres in Farnham and Cowansville will now serve the population of Brome-Missisquoi seven days a week after receiving emergency funding from the federal government’s Reaching Home program.
The warming centres were launched as a pilot project in 2022 to provide a safe space for individuals who are unhoused to warm-up during the winter. The project involves a regional committee for homelessness, some Township municipalities, and various community organizations, including Cellule Jeunes et Familles de Brome-Missisquoi, le Passant, Entr’Elles, Partage Notre-Dame, and la Maison des jeunes de Farnham.
According to Marie-Andrée Pomerleau, projet coordinator, the warming centres provide essential resources to those facing homelessness, including temporary shelter, clothing, and food, and there are case workers on-site to accompany them and connect them to additional support services.
With growing needs in Brome-Missisquoi, municipalities need to find ways to support their population, noted Pomerleau.
