Windsor Invests Millions to Convert Downtown Pool into Shelter Space

Windsor city officials have approved a significant investment to repurpose a former public pool into emergency shelter space in response to a growing need for accommodations for the homeless population. In a closed-door meeting on Monday, the city council voted to allocate funding, amounting to “several million” dollars, to fill in the former Windsor Water World pool and upgrade the building’s HVAC system. This decision comes as the city grapples with increasing shelter demands and the ongoing operation of a temporary Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4).

Mayor Drew Dilkens explained that while the city is still years away from establishing a permanent H4 location, immediate action is necessary due to current pressures. “We have pressures today that we have to deal with,” Dilkens stated. The city operates its temporary facility year-round, and during extreme weather conditions, local shelters often reach capacity. To ensure that no individual has to sleep on the streets, the council is committed to expanding shelter availability.

Plans for the Former Pool

The Wyandotte Street East facility has served as a temporary H4 since April 2020. This initiative was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made physical distancing in traditional shelters challenging. At the current H4, individuals experiencing homelessness have access to essential services, including food, clothing, restrooms, and medical care.

Dilkens indicated that the work to fill the pool and upgrade the HVAC system is expected to be completed by the end of the year, although it could extend to spring 2026. He emphasized that the city would have needed to undertake this work eventually, regardless of the current circumstances. “Unless the building is a tear-down, which it’s not, it’s work that we’re going to have to do anyway to make that space usable,” he said.

The city has earmarked $20.5 million in its ten-year capital budget for a permanent H4, but only a portion of these funds will now be used for the current project. The estimated cost for establishing a permanent facility has surged to approximately $98 million, significantly higher than the previous estimate of around $60 million in 2022.

Future of Permanent Shelter Plans

Windsor plans to collaborate with provincial and federal governments to cover the costs of the permanent H4. However, as of now, neither level of government has committed funding, and a permanent site has yet to be identified. In April 2024, the city announced the selection of vacant industrial land on Wellington Avenue for the new shelter, which would provide comprehensive services and transitional housing units.

City staff initially attempted to negotiate the purchase of this property but ultimately sought expropriation after negotiations failed. Although the city anticipated some level of cleanup would be necessary before construction, the exact costs were not disclosed. By December, Windsor announced it would abandon its pursuit of the Wellington Avenue site due to undisclosed land acquisition costs that were deemed too high.

In May, the council decided to broaden its search for a new site, moving beyond a two-kilometer radius from downtown as previously recommended. This shift came after consultations with shelter clients, who indicated how far they would be willing to travel for support.

The city’s proactive measures reflect an urgency to address homelessness and ensure that all individuals in Windsor have access to shelter, particularly as the demand continues to rise. The conversion of the former pool into a shelter space is a step towards providing immediate relief while planning for a more permanent solution in the future.