St. George’s Anglican Church in downtown Moncton will not be providing an emergency overnight warming centre next winter.
Speaking to Moncton City Council on Tuesday, Father Chris Van Buskirk doesn’t think it will be useful as a long-term solution to homelessness.
“It was a real intense learning situation to have 50 plus people in that hall from six o’clock at night until 10 o’clock in the morning,” noted the church rector.
Van Buskirk says St. George’s is collaborating with other churches to provide four weekend meals and will continue to provide a weekday breakfast program and drop-in shower service.
“(Going forward), we want to try to offer activities to break the cycle of addiction and to promote friendship and support,” he noted.
St. George’s operated a warming centre in January until the City of Moncton reopened the old Assomption fire hall as a temporary out-of-the-cold shelter for the rest of the winter.
