Cold Weather Response for Individuals Who Are Unhoused
The Guelph & Wellington Poverty Elimination Collaborative is working with The County of Wellington, The City of Guelph, Stepping Stone, Wyndham House, Royal City Mission, Guelph Public Libraries, Hope House, Chalmers, The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington, Guelph Police Service and Wellington County OPP again this year to develop Community Cold Weather Response Plans for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County. These plans outline a protocol for the 2025-26 cold weather season to support individuals experiencing homelessness to access and get to emergency shelters and warm-up locations in periods of cold weather.
These Community Cold Weather Response Plans for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness are not triggered by a specific temperature. Partners and community members are encouraged to use their judgment about the temperature and weather conditions, as well as the safety and well being of individuals.
Please share this infographic widely. It will print as an 8.5 x 11 sheet: Guelph Cold Weather Response Infographic.
Please share this infographic widely. It will print as an 8.5 x 11 sheet: County Cold Weather Response Infographic.
If you are experiencing homelessness and would like to access shelter:
- If you are an adult (25 years+), please call: 519-822-1100
- If you are a family, please call: 519-265-1323
- If you are a youth (16-24 years), please call: 519-837-3892
If you see someone unsheltered outdoors in need of assistance (not an emergency), call:
- HERE 24/7: 1-844-437-3247
- Guelph Police Service non-emergency line: 519-824-1212
- Welcoming Streets, for downtown support: 519-838-6763
- If it is an emergency situation: Call 911
Warm-up Location Hours:
23 Gordon Emergency Shelter (23 Gordon Street, Guelph) – Overnight, 8:00pm-8:00am (7 days a week – intake done upon arrival)
Youth Emergency Shelter (18 Norwich Street East, Guelph) – 24/7 (7 days a week)
Youth Hub (133 Woolwich Street) – 9:00am-4:30pm (Mon-Fri), (closed Sat & Sun)
Grove Hub at University of Guelph (50 College Ave W.) – 11:00am-7:00pm (Mon-Fri), (closed Sat-Sun)
Grove Hub Woolwich (737 Woolwich St.) – 11:00am-7:00pm (Mon-Fri), (closed Sat-Sun)
Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St.) – 12:00pm-7:00pm (7 days a week)
Hope House (10 Cork Street East) – 9:00am-4:00pm (Mon-Wed), 9:00am-6:00pm (Thurs), (closed Fri-Sun)
Chalmers Downtown (41 Macdonnell Street) – 9:30am-12:00pm (Mon), 9:30am-12:00pm (Tues), 6:30pm-8:00pm (Wed), (closed Thurs), 10:00am-11:30am (Friday), (closed Sat-Sun)
Chalmers West (577 Willow Rd) – 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Thurs)
Guelph City Hall (1 Carden St.) – 8:00am-4:30pm (Mon-Fri, closed Sat & Sun)
Please note: City Hall may open as a warming centre with extended hours in the event of a heat warning. Please visit the City of Guelph’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for immediate updates on hours. Visit the City of Guelph at https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/rec-facilities/city-cooling-centres/ for additional updates on hours. The cooling locations listed above will also be notified to share updates with the community.
Guelph Main Branch Library (100 Norfolk St.) – 9:00am-9:00pm (Mon-Thurs), 9:00am-5:00pm (Fri & Sat), 1:00pm-5:00pm (Sun)
Guelph Public Library West End Branch (21 Imperial Road South) – 9:00am-8:00pm (Mon-Thurs), 9:00am-9:00pm (Fri), 9:00am-5:00pm (Sat), 1:00pm-5:00pm (Sun)
All other library locations (380 Eramosa Rd., 1 Starwood Dr., 650 Scottsdale Dr., 100-31 Farley Dr.) – 9:00am-8:00pm (Mon-Thurs), 9:00am – 5:00pm (Fri & Sat), 1:00pm – 5:00pm (Sun)
The following locations will be closed at the below times due to holiday hours (all other locations will remain open at the above times regardless of holidays):
Hope House, Youth Hubs, Grove Hubs, Guelph City Hall, and Guelph Public Libraries will be closed on December 25th and 26th.
Chalmers (all locations) will be closed December 25th, 26th, and January 1st.
No Cost Meal Programs:
Royal City Mission runs Monday to Sunday and provides lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 6pm.
Side By Side Guelph runs at 176 Wyndham St. N. Sundays from 2 pm – 3:30 pm.
If you are experiencing homelessness and would like to access shelter:
- If you are an adult (25 years+), please call: 519-822-1100
- If you are a family, please call: 519-265-1323
- If you are a youth (16-24 years), please call: 519-837-3892
If you see someone unsheltered outdoors in need of assistance (not an emergency), call:
- HERE 24/7: 1-844-437-3247
- Wellington County OPP non-emergency line: 1-888-310-1122
- If it is an emergency situation: Call 911
Warm-up Location Hours:
Aboyne Library (552 Wellington Rd. 18) – 10:00AM – 8:00PM (Mon-Thurs), 10:00AM – 5:00PM (Fri-Sat), 1:00PM-5:00PM (Sunday)
Arthur Library (110 Charles St. E) – 10:00AM-5:00PM Monday, 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), closed Sunday
Clifford Library (7 Brown St. N) – Closed Monday, 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues), 2:00PM-8:00PM (Wed-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Drayton Library (106 Wellington St. S) – 10:00AM – 5:00PM (Mon), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues-Thurs), 10:00am-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Elora Library (144 Geddes St.) – 10:00AM-5:00PM (Mon), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Wed), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Erin Library (14 Boland Dr.) – The Erin Library is closed for construction.
Fergus Library (190 St. Andrew St. W) – 10:00AM-8:00PM (Mon-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri-Sat), 1:00PM-5:00PM (Sun)
Harriston Library (88 Mill St.) – 10:00AM-8:00PM (Mon-Tues), 1:00PM-5:00PM (Wed), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Hillsburgh Library (9 Station St.) – 10:00AM-5:00PM (Mon), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Marden Library (7368 Wellington Rd. 30 RR#5) – 10:00AM-5:00PM (Mon), 1:00PM-8:00PM (Tues), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Wed), 1:00PM-8:00PM (Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Mount Forest Library (118 Main St. N) – 10:00AM-5:00PM (Mon), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Wed), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Palmerston Library (265 Bell St.) – 10AM – 5PM (Mon), 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Puslinch Library (29 Brock Rd. S) – Closed Monday, 10:00AM-8:00PM (Tues-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri), 10:00AM-3:00PM (Sat), Closed Sunday
Rockwood Library (121 Rockmosa Dr.) – 10:00AM-8:00PM (Mon-Thurs), 10:00AM-5:00PM (Fri-Sat), Closed Sunday
Grove Hub Erin (10 Thompson Cres.) – 2:00PM-6:00PM (Mon-Fri), (closed Sat-Sun)
Grove Hub Fergus (900 Tower St. S.) – 11:00 AM – 6:00PM (Mon-Fi), (closed Sat-Sun)
Grove Hub Palmerston (390 Main St. E.) – 11:00AM-6:00PM (Mon-Fri), (closed Sat-Sun)
Staying Safe in Cold Weather
Cold weather can be extremely dangerous, especially if you are exposed to the elements. In partnership with Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health we’ve created a document to provide information on how to stay safe in cold weather.
Staying-Safe-in-Cold-Weather-One-Pager-November-2025