Guelph seeks donated property for potential temporary encampment

The City of Guelph is asking private property owners to consider donating land that could potentially be used to house a temporary encampment.

The city sent out the request earlier this week, following a mayoral direction issued in February.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie requested in the directive that city administration "prepare and present to city council information about the logistics, costs and processes required to provide a temporary structured encampment site for those currently experiencing homelessness."

The report will include potential sites, funding options and costs for materials or tiny homes.

"Obviously we're reviewing our city-owned properties," James Goodram, Guelph's general manager of economic development and tourism, told CBC News. "But we do know that there is some interest out in the community of potential private property owners that would be willing to donate their land for a period of up to three years or more to potentially accommodate such an initiative."

Goodram said no decisions have been made about where a temporary encampment could potentially go; the city is simply "casting that net far and wide" to gauge interest.

"If there are properties out there, let us know," he said. "We'll take a look at them, and there'll be some evaluation criteria that hasn't been developed yet."

Tiny home group hopes to help

A newly formed group called the Guelph Tiny Homes Bridging Coalition is also working to set up a temporary shelter in Guelph.

Last month, coalition spokesperson Mike Marcolongo told CBC News they'd secured two acres of land for the project and hoped to collaborate with the city.

"We need to address the housing crisis and that means building supportive, building geared-to-income, building additional housing supply to address the current housing crisis," Marcolongo said.

"It's not just about warehousing folks, it's not just about providing them with a warm place," Marcolongo said. "It's also about building community." 

Goodram said the city hopes to hear back about potential property donations by April 26. They'll then be included in a report to council, which is expected in late spring.