Residents move from tents into cabins at Kitchener’s newest settlement for the homeless

KITCHENER - Behind the industrial Lot42 event space on Ardelt Place, tucked away from sight of the street, is the newest settlement for the homeless.

Until recently it was just tents. But now, one-room cabins are arranged in a semicircle in the gravel courtyard.

David Fitzpatrick, 31, has moved into one of them.

He's already added some homey touches including a stone patio he built at his front entrance.

I've done a lot of trades," he explained.

Inside, he has a guitar hanging on a wall next to an old, framed painting of a ship. He has furniture to sit and sleep on, a TV and other personal items.

I like that it has a lock on the door," he said of his cabin. It's safer. (I) don't have to worry about getting robbed in the middle of the night."

That's a welcome relief after living on and off the street for the past year, he said.

Fitzpatrick is one of about 20 who are staying at the site.

A better tent city" is the name for a new kind of settlement for the homeless. It caters to people who live unsheltered and can't or won't access the formal shelter system. It was inspired by Ron Doyle, who owns the property where the cabins are sitting.

Also behind the project is Jeff Willmer, a former city planner and former chief administrative officer of the City of Kitchener, and Udanapher (Nadine) Green.

Green used to operate a convenience store in downtown Kitchener where she also offered people living homeless a place to sleep and eat. She was evicted earlier this year and now has a cabin at the settlement.

Green has become the informal leader of the community. She brings people to the site who need shelter, she ushers people to appointments and has set the general rules and tone for the community.

Whenever I'm not here ... I miss it here; it's home," she said.

The group has been able to raise $45,000 through community fundraising for the project and has also secured a grant, said Willmer.

Part of the funds went to purchase 12 cabins, which were delivered over the past several weeks.

Each one has a lockable door and two windows and it really gives each person, or each couple, a safe place to sleep and store their belongings," said Willmer.

The cabins don't have electricity or plumbing, but will soon be finished with vinyl flooring, beds, insulation and wall boards.

Residents can access Lot42's internet and can charge electronics in the building as well as use washrooms and kitchen facilities.

The first thing that strikes everybody is how tranquil it is," Willmer said of the community. It's neat and orderly and people are sort of going about their business and doing their laundry and cleaning."

Businesses and individuals have offered donations and discounts. New mattresses were donated, a washer and dryer, toothbrushes, and more.

Doyle is planning more improvements to the site: a fence around the community to create a formal entrance, flower pots and an art project that would involve painting the laundry room trailer.

We have what used to be a mobile home - a house trailer - that was completely stripped down and refurbished as a laundry room with a washer and dryer and two showers," said Willmer.

Those are up and running now and the people feel great about it because they can take a nice hot shower."

Willmer expects the cabins to remain at the property at least through next winter, but the community could relocate if a better site becomes available.

Laura Booth is a Waterloo Region-based general assignment reporter for the Record. Reach her via email: lbooth@therecord.com