Located 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."
- Download the Emergency Care Establishments By-Law
- Go to the Transition House web site.
- Go to the County's page on Transition House
The facility allows a homeless person to bring along his or her partner and/or pet but is otherwise a mid-barrier facility.
A New Mandate
At the June 18, 2025 County Council meeting, a motion was passed changing the "model" at the facility.
- Transition house will now focus on individuals wanting help and not those rejecting help
- Transition House no longer allow "amnesty lockers" - that is no drugs allowed on premises but couples and those with pets would still be allowed. This model excludes individuals with perceived active substance use or complex behavioural health needs.
- Transition House is meant to help those with no criminal behaviour and will be a true "Transition House"
- The Warming Hub at 310 Division was shut down on July 4, 2025 and a search was made for an alternative location "outside Cobourg". As of early September, no location has been found.
- The location of a shelter to house those who do not qualify for Transition House will be recommended by staff at a future meeting - implemented before September, 2025. The location will not be in Cobourg unless it's on County or Hospital property.
The manager of Transition House - Ike Nwibe - resigned effective 19 September 2025.
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:
- 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.