New Hamilton drop-in warming service replacing overnight bus program

A repurposed HSR bus acting as an overnight warming centre will be replaced with a single 25-person overnight drop-in centre and shelter beds.

Following a council meeting Wednesday, the city voted to replace it’s overnight bus warming service, along with some drop-in warming stations at recreation centres and libraries with a space providing additional permanent shelter beds.

The warm bus program was part of Hamilton’s winter response strategy to alleviate capacity pressures in the homelessness serving systems during the colder winter months.

It ran from Dec. 1, 2023 to Mar. 31, 2024, running daily from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. free of charge and circled through multiple 15 stops through multiple wards from the Mountain to the lower city.

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At the meeting a major issue that was flagged with the initial bus program was that there was no time limit to occupy the bus, meaning it would quickly fill up leaving people looking to join at a later stop being unable to use the bus.

City staff say that the proposed alternatives to the warming bus would allow for access to more services, including beds or meals.

The costs to keep people warm

According to a city report, the operation of one Hamilton Transit warming bus, along with on-site support staff in the approved 2024 budget was $150,000 and $67,550 respectively.

Adding three hours to designated warming spaces costed $103,660 and extending the Hamilton Public Library Central location’s operating hours cost $10,070.

City council approved annualized funding to create 45 permanent shelter beds costing about $1.3 million effective Dec. 1.

The city further approved funding 25 additional permanent evening drop-in spaces at Mission Services, costing approximately $160,875.

The council also approved a one-time capital investment of $88,150 to address a capital shortfall at the YWCA, previously approved by council in September.

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