A Better Tent City moves to Ardelt Avenue in Kitchener

Kitchener's A Better Tent City (ABTC) is moving to Ardelt Avenue, less than 500 metres away from the project's original location at Lot 42.

The new address is 49 Ardelt Ave. — a grassy area between Ardelt Avenue and the Conestoga Parkway. The City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region District School Board each own a portion of the site.

"We are very pleased that the City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region District School Board are willing to make their land available," said Jeff Willmer, a volunteer with and co-founder of ABTC.

"It's not a perfect property, but it's going to work pretty well I think," he said, noting the land has good access to electricity, water and nearby public transit.

ABTC is a community of tiny homes set up amid the pandemic as a quick-fix solution to homelessness. People live in their own small cabins, but laundry, kitchen space and washrooms are communal. Residents can also access health care and other social services on-site.

Since June, the project has been located at city's snow storage facility on Battler Road, but it must move by the end of the month to free up space for the city's winter maintenance operations.

Spokespeople for the city and the school board confirmed the move to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

"We look forward to welcoming our new neighbours while they await a permanent housing solution," said Eusis Dougan-McKenzie, chief communications officer for the public board.

"As part of the Waterloo community, we think it is important that everyone has access to safe housing."

Organizers with ABTC have reached out to nearby businesses to let them know about the move, Willmer said.

They continue to search for a permanent location, he said.