The Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters Update
The proposal to build a community of small cabins to provide warm shelter for people living on Hamilton streets or in tents will be discussed again today, February 17/22 by the city’s Emergency and Community Services Committee. The initiative, which has been endorsed by our church board, is being led by a group of people (HATS) that includes Bill Johnston of our Affordable Housing Team.
Meanwhile, the first cabin will arrive in Hamilton this week and be located in front of the Anglican Cathedral on James North. (The HATS team is grateful that our Board offered to locate the cabin at our site, but the Cathedral location is more visible, which is important to promoting this initiative.)
We are proposing the first 10 cabins go on the vacated Sir John A. Macdonald school site, but that would be temporary. If you have ideas for possible future sites, send a note to Bill Johnston at housing@uuhamilton.ca The ideal site will be in the lower city, ideally within walking distance of downtown, and with some separation from homes.
- Go to the HATS webpage to learn more. Hamilton Alliance For Tiny Shelters
- Send an email to your councillor, telling them that you support this initiative, and why you care. Please don’t accuse the city of dragging its feet. At this point, the city isn’t slowing things down. Councillors’ email addresses are their first and last name, separated by a period, as in joe.smith@hamilton.ca The mayor’s email is mayor@hamilton.ca