Hamilton’s tiny shelters may have a ‘potential site’ to call home

Even with no home in sight, the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) says its still hoping to house some of the city's most vulnerable residents by this coming holiday season.

For months, the group has continued its search for a place to build their village of pint-sized homes meant to shelter people from the streets.

And in the coming weeks, the organization may finally be able to announce some good news on where they're expecting to land, said Tom Cooper, a member of the HATS steering committee.

We are in discussions about a potential site and we're hopeful," said Cooper, who could not reveal any further details. A few things still need to fall into place and we still need to have some discussions to make sure the site meets all the needs of potential residents and the community."

The initiative, which was launched by a coalition of anti-poverty advocates earlier this year, had originally hoped to utilize part of the former Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School property for the temporary community.

However, that vision was soon quashed by a mix of political resistance, zoning hurdles and demolition plans. Since then, the search for other sites has been challenging due to safety hazards, contamination and proximity to backyards.

Cooper said that, should things come together, the group is hopeful that residents could have a temporary roof over their heads by the coming holiday season or early in the new year.

Nobody wants to go into another winter seeing people freezing in alleyways and alcoves," he said. We know this isn't a permanent fix, but it's something that will hopefully keep people safe and stable for a little while until more permanent forms of housing come around."

Another aspect that needs to fall into place is funding, noted Cooper.

Earlier this year, the organization pegged the capital and operational costs of the first phase of one to 12 cabins at roughly $200,000. They also previously asked the city for $100,000 contribution to assist in the effort.

Cooper said financial discussions with the city have been fairly positive" and the group is planning to present during prebudget delegations with the newly elected council.

To get a jump on their funding needs, the coalition has also launched a GoFundMe campaign for the project. As of Thursday, the group had raised a little more than $12,000 of their $50,000 goal.

Each cabin costs approximately $5,000 to build - with that cost covering construction materials, a heater, a bed, fridge and microwave. The project also has other infrastructure needs, such as setting up hydro, washrooms and showers, a kitchen trailer and hiring staff.

However, one of the cabins is nearly completed - and it has been built entirely by students at Westdale Secondary School.

Construction technology teacher Dave Kipp said his class got involved with the project after having a virtual meeting with HATS to learn more about the initiative and what it will encompass.

That meeting ended in a community partnership, Kipp said.

The project has seen the students build by hand and all up to code. They've done everything from the framing, insulation and trim work, and will eventually install a door and do some shingle work.

Kipp said that, along with picking up new skills, the students have also learned more about the need for wraparound support, as well as the complexities of poverty and homelessness.

It's a much bigger picture than just somewhere for someone to sleep in," he said. They know this is going to be something meaningful to a community and they're pretty excited about it."

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com