London man facing homelessness is building himself a mobile hut

In his years of doing community outreach work to help those who are experiencing homelessness, Gary Turner of London, Ont. never thought that he'd have to scramble to find his own living arrangements.

But at the end of May, he's being evicted from his apartment prompting him to crowd source building materials for a temporary shelter that he hopes will catch the eye of the city looking for housing solutions.

Turner calls the shelter a Conestoga Hut and believes he can build it for less than $3,000. It's a micro-shelter that's mobile, fully-insulated with a curved top and is weather-proof. 

"They're meant to be for people who need a home and have nowhere else to go and it can be moved around, packed up and put away, and accessible to anyone," he said. "I've tried finding an apartment, but I got 2 dogs, a cat, and not the best income in the world so it's next to impossible, and this is kind of a hail Mary last option for me."

Turner started building the hut four weeks ago using donations from community members. So far, people have contributed $500 to his shelter project. He says it's not equipped with a toilet or running water but it will be warm. 

"It's the type of insulation you'd have in an RV, even the floors are gonna be insulated, so literally you're surrounded by insulation on all four sides, " he said. 

Support for the community and from the community

Turner is known in parts of London as 'Gaz the Friendly Neighbourhood Clown', where he dresses up and hands out basic necessities and harm reduction kits to people on the streets. 

"I grew up in the Old East Village neighbourhood and I'm intimately familiar with poverty and the struggles of people with addictions, mental health, and homelessness especially with many people that I've known my whole life," he said.  

He was surprised when the community turned to help him. But with homeless looming, he says he is grateful.  

"It's a new feeling that's for sure, I'm used to being the guy who does everything on his own," he said. "I'm the guy who doesn't usually get help, or accept help very often so for me to have support is kind of weird."

Housing alternatives in the city

Turner wants the city to reconsider using the huts as a housing option for those in need. In 2020, Coun. Michael van Holst advocated for Conestoga Huts but the idea was rejected. This spring, tents set up along the river are being moved by the city with some people unsure where they will go. 

"These [huts] are something that are small, private, lockable, you can take it with you, compared to something like a tent where somebody could just come by and punch it up, flip it over, or run away with it when you're not there," Turner explains. 

He believes the huts would provide people with more stability, and would benefit those who cannot afford housing or are waiting for housing, as well as those who do not want to live within the shelter system. 

"My big three is 'health, happiness, and harm reduction'. If that can be brought to the community as much as possible and by as many as possible, then I think it makes for a better community."

Turner needs to have the hut done by the end of May when he loses his apartment. As for where it will be located, he says he is still uncertain.