Hamilton ‘tiny homes’ pilot likely to arrive late 2023 if approved, says director – Hamilton | 24CA News

Canada
Published 12.08.2023

The director of an area poverty discount group believes an 18-month push so as to add tiny properties as a part of the revamped Hamilton, Ont. encampment technique will really preserve these unhoused “safe, stable and healthy.”

Hamilton councillors will see particulars of a proposed two-year pilot mission Monday which goals to construct 25 mini-houses within the West Harbour space near Liuna Station.

Tom Cooper of Hamilton’s Roundtable for Poverty Reduction says December is the possible timeframe for half of the short-term residences to be made out there, ought to politicians give it the thumbs up.

“We may do it in a phased approach, so maybe start with 10 or 12 and then move up to 25 over a period of months,” Cooper defined.

Housing executives will suggest adaption of the pilot in addition to a protocol to open entry to public washroom and bathe services to alleviate town’s encampment disaster.

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In Hamilton, roughly 1,700 persons are homeless and about 10 per cent live outdoors, based on town.

The tiny shelters, for these unable to reside in a conventional shelter, mirror an identical growth at a hybrid shelter in Kitchener’s metropolis centre that kicked off in late 2021.

Spots in a grassy space of town centre, collectively owned by the City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region District School Board, have been provided to individuals residing in three massive encampments throughout the area.

The 50 mini dwellings, managed by employees from a job useful resource centre, are eight by 10 ft and a part of a communal hub that has loos, showers and laundry services.

Hamilton’s model consists of buildings with a mattress, microwave and mini-refrigerator.

Suites may be locked to supply safety — one thing those that are homeless don’t essentially have after they’re residing in encampments or metropolis shelters.


The inside of one of many tiny cabins that intention to supply protected and safe shelter for homeless Hamiltonians.


Lisa Polewski / 900 CHML

Fencing, 24/7  safety and help providers with communal washrooms and kitchens are additionally included within the website structure.

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Cooper suggests the enticing a part of the thought is the truth that it’s “revenue neutral” with nearly no price to town and taxpayers.

Prior to the primary pitch to council in early 2022, near $300,000 was raised by way of the assistance of people, companies, and foundations.

HATS would safe one other $100,000 from non-public entity the Fairmount Foundation in July.

Initially, the group was earmarked for a portion of the sphere on the Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School on York Boulevard, nevertheless lack of political help, neighbourhood resistance and a deliberate demolition of the location compelled a transfer.

HATS could be despatched again to the drafting board in early 2023 after council rejected alternate websites at Cathedral Park, the previous Dominion Glass website close to Gage and Barton in addition to Stuart Street close to the CN Railyard

The metropolis’s housing division is recommending an space of Strachan Street between James and Hughson Street North close to the CN tracks.

Neither town nor Cooper see this as a long-term resolution for these experiencing homelessness, however a transitional mission as soon as native politicians hammer out the place extra everlasting housing shall be developed.

“So it all depends on the individual. We’re certainly not going to put deadlines on people,” Cooper stated.

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“But we think this could certainly be a workable solution.”

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