The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board has reopened its warming centre in Fort Frances.
It accepted its first clients at the former Apostolic Way Church Wednesday night.
Chief Administrative Officer Dan McCormick says some additional funding allowed them to open earlier than planned.
“We did receive a donation through the town of Fort Frances, and that helped open earlier. We did, of course, receive a little bit more money in our relief funding that was put out by the government,” says McCormick.
They plan to have it available right through to the spring.
“It’ll be open to clients from 8:30 p.m. until 7:30 in the morning. Staff will be on-site from 8 to 8. We’ll be following all COVID restrictions, of course.”
McCormick says that includes no visitors.
The centre has the capacity for fourteen people at one time. McCormick feels that is more than adequate, noting they have never reached that capacity in past winters.
There are still renovations going on.
For now, only the basement of the former church is being used.
“We’ll be starting to do full renovations on the back part as soon as a warming shelter closes in the spring. We will be doing a full reno of the church areas as well.
A new roof is currently going over the back part of the church to solve some water issues in that area.
