'A more positive path forward': How tiny shelters could combat homelessness in Hamilton

A small community of 20 tiny homes, each measuring 8 by 10 feet and scattered around a soon-to-be-decided location in Hamilton — this is the vision that the organizers of The Hamilton Alliance Tiny Shelters (HATS) have in mind to help fight homelessness in the city. 

But more than that, the homes represent a larger picture of that vision: raising awareness about the lack of affordable housing in Hamilton. 

HATS is a coalition of groups including the Social Planning & Research Council and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction. 

The latter's director, Tom Cooper, said the planned community is not meant to be a "permanent feature." 

"It's a place inside a space to keep people safe and warm. That's much better than living in a tent or sleeping in an alley," he explained.

Supporters of the project are expected to speak about it before Hamilton's emergency and community services committee during its meeting Thursday afternoon.

Occupancy of the tiny shelters will hopefully provide more than just a place to stay, including harm reduction programs and features such as a garden, said Cooper.

"This idea was not optimal, but really what we thought we could do quickly and fairly cheaply to respond to the humanitarian crisis that's facing so many people who are unhoused in Hamilton."

Encampments have become more visible during the pandemic. That visibility has brought with it debate over the city's approach of tearing down tents in public spaces, protests and even an attempt at a court injunction to block the city's bylaw.

HATS is largely inspired by its Kitchener-Waterloo counterpart, A Better Tent City. 

Cooper said they've received much guidance from the team behind that project which already offers small shelters, stating that A Better Tent City provided "direction on us getting set up." 

HATS has not found a location they can utilize, but is working with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to determine a suitable property. 

Cooper explained that HATS will need to secure a spot before "we get too many people excited." 

As of Monday evening, the HWDSB, HATS and the city, had met to determine whether the now-closed Sir John A. Macdonald High School site might be a suitable location.