'Mixed reception' from residents as A Better Tent City asks to move from Kitchener to Breslau

Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz says the idea of A Better Tent City moving from Kitchener to Breslau has been met with "mixed reception" from residents.

Councillors heard from several people during a committee meeting Tuesday evening and received more than two dozen letters in their agenda package.

"We heard a lot of passion last night, and I think people are scared," Shantz said Wednesday morning in an interview on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris.

"There were a number of people who presented who were afraid for their property, afraid for their loved ones and just don't feel safe with that kind of a place, I guess, close to their home," said Shantz.

"Then there were also people who said, you know, we want to help. We want to support the folks who need support."

'We provide a home'

A Better Tent City is a tiny home and tent community that helps people who might otherwise end up in a shelter or homeless. It's located at Lot 42 on Ardelt Place in Kitchener. The property was sold earlier this spring and the volunteers were told they'd need to move the community elsewhere. 

Late last month, a farm property owned by Diocese of Hamilton in Breslau was identified as a potential location.

On Tuesday evening, councillors heard from Jeff Wilmer, of A Better Tent City, who said the Breslau property would offer the chance for residents to grow their own food.

He noted people living at A Better Tent City are not left to fend for themselves: Support people are on site, and they are given food and access to health supports, like the Sanguen Health van that visits the community.

"It's making a big difference in the lives of the residents — those in our region who are the most difficult to help — and it is remarkably cost effective. We provide more than shelter: We provide a home, and a community and a family."

'This is setting [the] homeless up for failure'

Several residents, however, are concerned about having a community for people experiencing homelessness in Breslau.

Jay Hollings said he's been a resident on Spitzig Road for about 13 years after moving from Cambridge and there's a school nearby the planned site. He's also worried about safety and what it would mean for the community.

"It's a quiet farm area. I'm asking council, do we want Breslau to have that reputation? Who knows what they'll do down the road. Will people call it the Spitzig crowd? Or don't go to Breslau because of the project that they have there."

Doug Knechtel said he's worried about people wandering around his property and taking tools, gas cans and other items. He said if people wandered onto his farm, it could be dangerous, and gave the example of people who might pass out in a corn field during combine season.

He said he was also worried about a hot, dry summer.

"I can't believe these people are going to enjoy it there."

Melissa Borutski Freij expressed sympathy, but, "Unfortunately, I don't think this is a great area for this homeless project."

She said most people need cars to get to places like grocery stores or doctor's offices, or to find a job.

"I didn't move to Kitchener for my family because Kitchener has a homeless problem … I didn't move there, I moved to Breslau so we didn't have to experience this head on," Borutski Freij said, noting she doesn't want her child to be exposed to addiction issues right now. 

"This is setting [the] homeless up for failure."

Township staff asked to report back

Township staff were asked to look into the request to move A Better Tent City to Breslau and report back at the next council meeting, on June 8, said Shantz.

"I think it's worth considering because homelessness is a regional issue. It's not just a city issue," she said.

"It's an issue that is everywhere and it's an issue that we as a society need to deal with and to try and help these people to have a step up."

Listen to the full interview with Mayor Sandy Shantz: