Region now getting advice on the local housing crisis from people without homes

Two grassroots organizations, whose membership includes the precariously housed, are now advising the Region of Waterloo on its plan to end homelessness in the region.

A Better Tent City is a neighbourhood of tiny homes in Kitchener, Ont., supported by volunteers who provide food and health and social services. The Kitchener Lived Expertise Group is made up of 12 people who have been, or who are, currently homeless.

Both are now working with the Region of Waterloo on its Homelessness Master Plan and Interim Response to Homelessness, which was unanimously approved by the Region of Waterloo Community Services Committee last week. It goes to council for final approval on Thursday.

David Alton, the facilitator of the lived expertise group, says its members have a diverse range of experiences that helps advise both the City of Kitchener's work — which is why it first formed — and the region's.

"Housing marginalization takes many forms and many flavours. Many of these people in the working group have deep connections and relationships with people who are unsheltered," Alton told The Morning Edition's host Craig Norris.

"Some of them are even actually on the ground right now at the 100 Victoria St. encampment, building relationships and temporarily living there. So there's just this kind of on the ground insight that frankly, staff and councillors and decision makers don't have access to, at least not traditionally."

'A rightful place' in the housing spectrum

Part of the region's interim plan recommends options like a sanctioned, managed or hybrid approach to encampments. Other recommendations include expanding the region's transitional housing program, home-based support program and the emergency shelter program.

The region is also considering involving other groups to run services and supports, that's something the group at A Better Tent City has been doing since it formed in 2020. 

A Better Tent City has 50 people living in 42 cabins on Ardelt Avenue on property owned by the Waterloo Region District School Board.

Jeff Willmer, a co-founder and volunteer at A Better Tent City, says he's been grateful for the land provided by the school board and some funding given by the region to cover capital costs.

"But I think the rewarding thing for us is the recommendation and committee's support of it, really legitimize A Better Tent City that has a rightful place in the whole spectrum of housing and shelter," Willmer told CBC K-W.

"I think people looked at it with some doubt in the early days, but now are starting to realize it actually is working and helping people who were falling between the cracks."

Open to change

The location is fully serviced with electricity, washrooms, showers, laundry facilities and a kitchen. People living at the location are also offered physical and mental health services along with addictions counselling, and addiction management. As well, other wrap-around services are expanding, he said.

Willmer says a core of the original 50 people are living at the location with at least two moving onto supportive housing in the region, while they have had to part ways with other people who have been disruptive at the location.

Alton at Kitchener Lived Expertise Group says he see the region's plan to sanction encampments as a sign that municipal leaders are open to change.

Previously encampments weren't on the table. Having it as part of the conversation feels like a breath of fresh air, he said.

"It means that it opens the door to more permissive options and it shifts focus from criminalizing people who are homeless to working with them to address their short and long term housing needs," Alton said.