Hamilton's 1st outdoor shelter to be set up by December in 'massive' undertaking, councillor says

Hamilton's first outdoor shelter officially has council's approval and will open by December, city staff say. 

Setting up the 40-cabin site on vacant, city-owned land at Tiffany Street and Barton Street West will be a "massive" undertaking, said Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, whose ward encompasses the location. 

"You might set up some temporary shelters, but then you will need to work with folks in the community," he said to staff at a council meeting Wednesday. 

"There's going to be a lot of movement happening." 

The outdoor shelter will cost about $7 million, including setting it up and running it for a year, staff estimate in a report. 

In the coming weeks, the city will begin an "engagement process" for the wider community, said Grace Mater, general manager of healthy and safe communities. 

Housing workers will also connect with residents living in encampments across the city about what their needs are and if they're interested in moving to the "sanctioned" site, said street outreach manager Danielle Blake. The outdoor shelter will house about 80 people, prioritizing couples and people with pets. 

Because of the short timeline, staff will select a company to supply the tiny homes rather than conduct a lengthier open bidding process, said Blake. 

The site will also require two common buildings with washroom, shower and laundry facilities, she said.

'A real wealth of support services'

A key part of the plan is having a range of services on site, the details of which are currently being finalized, Blake said.

For example, Hamilton paramedics will provide wound care and vaccinations, workers from St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton will provide mental health and addiction services, and police will provide "rapid intervention support." 

Organizations that already provide housing, food, safe injection supplies and other forms of assistance to encampments will also be involved at the outdoor shelter, said Blake.

"We feel there is a real wealth of support services," she said. 

As that work is going on, planning staff will get the land ready to live on, said Steve Robichaud, acting general manager of planning and economic development. 

Part of that will be addressing the fact the site is considered contaminated from historical industrial uses, he said. The city will ensure there's a barrier, such as gravel, laid between the soil and cabins so residents aren't exposed. 

Once residents move in, the city will begin enforcing a new rule banning encampments in a one-kilometre radius, said Mater.

The ban will be to avoid "over-intensification" in the area, she said. Tents will no longer be allowed in Central Park or Bayfront Park or at Pier 4, among other green spaces. 

Possible tent ban around indoor shelters

Council also approved $4.2 million for the creation of 192 indoor shelter beds, the vast majority of which will be within four blocks of Ward 3.

Coun. Nrinder Nann, who represents the ward, requested staff consider a similar one-kilometre ban of encampments in that area to ensure tents are no longer in Bishop's Park, J.C. Beemer Park and Myrtle Park. 

Residents are "desperate to get that green space back in their community," Nann said. 

Staff will report back next month with more details on potential encampment bans. 

Mayor Andrea Horwath said she's heard "a lot of concern" from councillors about how much the expanded indoor and outdoor shelters are costing the city. She, with council's support, has directed staff to pursue funding from the federal government.

Ottawa announced in this year's budget that $250 million would be made available to address encampments, although the money hasn't yet become available, said Horwath. 

"This [motion] is to try to make sure we are vigorously going after those dollars."