City sinking millions into filling pool for added shelter capacity

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says the pool at the old water world building will be filled in to create added shelter capacity if needed. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

The city is filling in the pool space at the former Windsor Water World site to provide additional shelter space when needed.

Dilkes confirmed to CTV News that city council approved the “several million dollars” project in a closed meeting on Monday.

“We need to make sure that we have the space available because of the increasing problem in the city to support those basically experiencing mental health and addiction issues,” Dilkens said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon.

The site serves as the temporary Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4) as the city pursues a permanent location.

In addition to filling in the pool, upgraded HVAC systems, added showers and washrooms will allow people to shelter overnight if there’s no capacity at city shelters.

Currently, the former water world property is open 24/7, but does not serve as a shelter space.

“When there are pressures in the system, we can put out cots or crash mats where no one ever has to be outdoors.”

It’s expected to take about a year to finish retrofitting the current pool space.

While the mayor is tight-lipped on the exact cost of the water world upgrades, he noted the funds will be pulled from those put aside for the permanent H4 location.

“We’re not trying to step into the shelter business and take over from those folks,” Dilkens said.

“We just need some additional support and additional capacity at a location where we know that population is already attending.”

The spending will not impact plans for a permanent location, which Dilkens said is “five plus years” away from opening.

On Dec. 23, 2024, the city announced it would no longer be pursuing land at 700 Wellington Avenue to house the permanent H4. Reasoning at the time included the cost associated with land acquisition.

“Once we find the permanent site, then we put the plan together. We go to the provincial government, we go to the federal government, we make our case. We also have to line up our own money on the city side,” Dilkens said of funding the H4.

The planned renovations come as Windsor-Essex experiences an increase in people experiencing homelessness.

Results from the 2024 Point-in-Time count presented to council on Monday indicated 672 people are experiencing homelessness in the region – a jump from 251 in 2021. The figures were based on a count done on Oct. 24, 2024.

-With files from CTV’s Ricardo Veneza.