KW Out of the Cold program loses fourth location
The Kitchener-Waterloo Out of the Cold program is losing its fourth location, after the program's steering committee found out on Saturday that St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kitchener would not be participating for the 2014-15 winter season.
St. Andrew's provided places for people who couldn't find a spot at Trinity United Church on Monday nights. However, Trinity announced it wouldn't take part in the program this winter, the first since it joined Out of the Cold in 1999 when the program began.
According to a press release from Out of the Cold's steering committee, St. Andrew's doesn't have enough space to support everyone who needs a spot and "they would not be able to handle the number of people would be turning to them on a winter Monday night."
Out of the Cold says it will only be able to operate on three nights a week, unless other organizations step in to help.
Last week, St. John's Lutheran Church in Waterloo announced it would not be participating in the program this year, citing increased safety concerns for church volunteers over the past two years. Last winter, the organization Ray of Hope it would not be offering the program this year, due to building renovations needed to keep up with the demand for services.