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310 Division Street 450Located at 310 Division Street, this is an establishment owned by Northumberland County but operated by an independent board.  It is licenced by the Town of Cobourg as an Emergency Care Establishment which is defined as "an institutional use that provides a means of immediate, temporary accommodation and assistance for a short-term period, generally less than one week, for the majority of the residents."

The new facility allows a homeless person to bring along his or her partner and/or pet, that addresses all three barriers, making it a low-barrier shelter but it does have a code of conduct.

Transition House – Client's Code of Conduct

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to educate clients about acceptable standards of behaviour and to minimize adverse neighborhood impacts. All clients of Transition House are required to adhere to the following code of conduct listed below:

  • Abstain from behaviour that is disruptive and unacceptable to others. Examples include: verbal, physical, or sexual harassment, bullying, threats and/or violent behaviour, nudity, possessing weapons, drug dealing, urinating/defecating anywhere other than in a washroom, etc. These behaviours may result in an immediate discharge that range from 72 hours - 30 days.
  • Smoke only in designated areas. Smoking in the shelter will result in an immediate discharge.
  • Consuming substances (drugs or alcohol) on Transition House property will result in an immediate discharge.

When you are outside of Transition House property, it is important to remember that as a client you are also a resident of the community. The community consists of several neighbors and neighboring businesses and it is expected that you respect your community and your neighbors.

All clients of Transition House are required to adhere to the following code of conduct while in the community:

  • Do not loiter, smoke or consume substances, or litter in the area on Division Street between Chapel Street and James Street; this includes both sides of the street. Failure to adhere to this could result in disciplinary action.
  • Excessive and/or disruptive noise is not permitted. Examples include: loud music, outdoor gatherings that involve excessive noise, disturbances late at night or early in the morning, yelling, shouting, singing and loud conversations.
  • As per the Nuisance By-law – Nuisances, such as littering, loitering, soliciting, spitting, fighting, carrying open liquor, the unlawful use, sale, furnishing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or controlled or illegal substances and other disorderly, annoying, unpleasant or obnoxious activities are prohibited.
  • As per the Noise By-law – No person shall make, cause or permit a noise that is likely, to disturb any inhabitants of the Town of Cobourg. Each person who contravenes the by-law is subject to penalties of $175 or $275 for each subsequent day the contravention continues.

Source of Code of Conduct: News item by Cecilia Nasmith

The relationship with the community is managed by the Community Liaison Committee.

Community Liaison Committee

The 310 Division CLC is a volunteer committee of diverse perspectives that will meet approximately once per month for the first year of operation of the new shelter, to share information, discuss ideas, and collectively problem-solve concerns.

Goals of the CLC

  • Help successfully integrate 310 Division Street into the community.
  • Ensure ongoing open communication between shelter management and the community to co-create opportunities and solutions.
  • Improve the community's understanding of the work happening within the shelter, and help shelter leadership, staff and clients ensure strong neighbour relations.

Members include: (Names at County page)

  • Shelter neighbours
  • Community members
  • Persons with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Cobourg business community
  • Cobourg Police Services
  • Town of Cobourg staff
  • Northumberland County staff
  • Transition House Shelter staff
  • Community agencies that work closely with the shelter and its clients

The CLC held its first inaugural meeting on December 17, 2024 to kick off the Committee, welcome new members, and begin their work to provide valuable guidance and feedback as the County and Transition House work to deliver the best possible support to vulnerable community members while ensuring strong neighbour relations.

Progress Report as of 3 February 2025.

Since the transition of shelter services to 310 Division Street, Cobourg just over one month ago – and the opening of the ground floor Warming Room two months ago – the facility has already begun to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Over 160 unique clients have accessed Warming Room and shelter services since doors opened. Approximately 25% of clients have indicated they were living rough prior to accessing shelter services. And 4 couples and 3 people with pets have been among those accessing shelter spaces - groups that were previously unable to be accommodated.

“We are encouraged by the positive impact we’ve already seen at 310 Division Street,” states Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander. “This is a critical step in the journey towards long-term solutions for homelessness in our community. The progress made in such a short period speaks to the power of collaboration and the community’s commitment to creating lasting change. As we continue to work together, we are focused on building on this momentum to ensure that those facing homelessness have the support and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives and integrate back into the community.”

Other highlights have also marked the early days of this service.

Transition House has established partnerships with Hope and Light Outreach Services, who is serving lunch onsite twice a week, and with the Salvation Army, serving dinner one night a week. Including those coordinated by staff, over 456 meals have been served to clients during this period. These meals offer not just nourishment, but a sense of care and community to clients during a difficult time.

6 other community organizations have begun offering onsite services, improving access to these critical services for clients and increasing opportunities for life-stabilization.

This includes:

  • Northumberland County Community & Social Services
  • Northumberland Paramedics Community Paramedicine Program
  • Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services
  • The Help Centre
  • The Legal Centre
  • Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Fourcast)

And, through collaborative efforts with system partners, 7 individuals have transitioned to permanent housing, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward stability and independence.

Community engagement

Northumberland County has been working closely with Transition House and community members to ensure ongoing collaboration. This includes the launch, in December, of the 310 Division Community Liaison Committee (CLC) – fulfilling a key recommendation from public consultations held in early 2024. Two productive meetings have taken place, to date, with a focus on developing a communications protocol and creating recommendations to improve community safety and well-being.

To view CLC meeting agendas and minutes, visit Northumberland.ca/ShelterModernization.

To contact the CLC, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How to help

One significant way community members can support successful shelter services is to share accurate information with their networks. Northumberland County and Transition House Coalition regularly share information and updates with the community through channels such as social media (Facebook) and websites (Northumberland.ca/ShelterModernization and THShelter.ca). Please consider re-sharing this information – expanding its reach and helping to get this information into the hands of more community members.

Transition House plans to engage volunteers in different aspects of shelter services, in the future. Interested persons can express their interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Transition House will reach out as they become ready to start engaging volunteers.

Donations are always appreciated and helpful:

  • Financial: to Transition House (www.canadahelps.org/en/ dn/79494) or to other agencies in Northumberland delivering services to vulnerable members of the community.
  • Food/clothing/materials: Transition House faces different needs at different times. Currently, Transition House is collecting donations of new or gently used adult winter clothing, including jackets, boots, and socks, as well as specific food items such as coffee and sugar. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter during regular business hours. Members of the community interested in making this type of donation in the future are encouraged to contact the shelter about specific areas of need.

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