JASON SETNYK
A report from Human Services detailing the status of homelessness and encampments provides insight into the City’s ongoing efforts to support individuals experiencing homelessness during the harsh winter months. Its release coincided with growing public concern over unconfirmed reports that some unhoused individuals may be in intensive care due to cold exposure.
Cornwall’s overnight warming centre, operated in partnership with the Agapè Centre and funded entirely by the City, recorded 110 individual visits during January. Between January 22 and 28, the centre was accessed 97 times, with nightly attendance ranging from nine to 17 individuals.
The facility, open nightly from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., provides shelter for anyone in need, with priority given to individuals listed in the City’s By-Names List of known unhoused residents. The City noted that the centre remains available every night through March 31, regardless of temperature.
A closer look at the week of January 22 to 28 shows 22 users identified as unhoused, 14 of unknown housing status, and only three from known encampments.
Concerns about extreme cold intensified following a social media post shared by Unity Street Help Association, which claimed that two individuals experiencing homelessness were in ICU fighting for their lives. Those camping outdoors faced windchills between -35°C and -40°C, and some, the group suggested, were reluctant to seek shelter due to rules prohibiting pets.
When asked for confirmation, the City of Cornwall replied: “Unfortunately, the City cannot comment on this.” The Cornwall Community Hospital also declined to confirm the ICU cases, citing privacy regulations. Cornwall Police issued a statement saying they “have not responded to any cold-exposure emergencies involving individuals believed to be unhoused.”
Although officials did not verify the ICU claims circulating on social media, the allegations have heightened concern about the risks faced by people experiencing homelessness during extreme cold.
When asked about barriers preventing people from using warming centres, the City acknowledged, “We have heard concerns relating to pets, but not belongings.” While no emergency pet foster services are currently available, the City has partnered with the OSPCA to distribute Pet Care Kits. These include warming beds, blankets, food, and toys for pets in encampments or transitional housing.
In terms of transportation, the City provides transit passes to unhoused individuals and residents of encampments as needed but does not operate a specific shuttle or pickup service.
Following media inquiries and public concern, the City released a public statement titled A Note from City Administration on Homelessness in Cornwall. It outlines both immediate and long-term strategies, including the use of public buildings like the Cornwall Public Library, Benson Centre, Civic Complex, and Aquatic Centre as daytime warming spaces for anyone seeking shelter. Housing Services staff conduct daily wellness checks, connect people to crisis beds, affordable housing, and income support. Longer-term projects like Parisien Manor, which offers transitional housing for 30 individuals, and Massey Commons, with 22 affordable units, are part of the City’s broader strategy.
The City emphasized that homelessness is complex and multifaceted: “We must respect an individual’s right to utilize services and supports offered to them-or not. Homelessness is not an issue that can be solved with one action or one program.”
The Human Services Division reported that Cornwall and SDG’s Centralized Housing Waitlist grew from 558 to 617 individuals between May and October 2025. The By-Names List remains steady at about 70 people actively experiencing homelessness, and 19 individuals were known to be living in encampments as of fall 2025.
Several encampments remain on municipal property, including two active shelters near the Aquatic Centre and a non-compliant site at Pointe Maligne. One shelter at Site #6 received a final abandonment notice. The report marks the first of a series of quarterly updates as the City continues to monitor encampments and expand its response to the growing needs of the unhoused population.
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