The site is being managed by Good Shepherd Centres in partnership with the City of Hamilton. Photo Credit: Jeff Harti/LinkedIn.
The City of Hamilton’s Barton-Tiffany tiny shelter project, which has been marred by controversy and delays, has finally begun to welcome its first residents, according to a press release issued on Feb. 25.
However, the city’s website states that only 24 of the 40 units are operational so far with the cabins reportedly opening up in a series of eight phases.
The website states that all 40 cabins are not expected to be open until at least March 14.
The city says that the site will provide shelter for up to 80 people, as all 40 cabins have room for two.
According to reports, 20 units will offer a total of 40 beds for singles and the other 20 units will provide 40 beds for couples.
The site is being managed by Good Shepherd Centres in partnership with the City of Hamilton.
The site also has trailers for communal washrooms, showers, and laundry as well as common buildings for residents and staff.
There will be 24/7 on-site support including Good Shepherd staff and third-party security.
Residents will reportedly have access to case management, physical and mental health care, addiction support, assistance with transitioning to permanent housing, and meals and snacks.
Despite delays, the city notes that multiple project milestones have been completed including site preparation, installation of fencing, electrical connections, asphalt patching, water line hookups and continued installation of shelter units.
Each unit requires electrical connections and hardware installation including doors, handles, and HVAC systems.
Katherine Kalinowski, the Chief Operating Officer of Good Shepherd Centres Hamilton, says, “The Barton-Tiffany temporary outdoor shelter site will offer housing-focused supports and services in an environment that is designed to meet the unique needs of people currently surviving in encampments.”
“Good Shepherd will leverage our significant experience in providing emergency shelter and responding to people struggling with poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addiction and trauma in the operation of this program.”
The City of Hamilton has not said how long the tiny shelters will stay at the site, although Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has emphasized that they are “temporary.”
“We are focused on long-term solutions, ensuring people have access to permanent housing and the resources they need for a secure future,” said Horwath.
“The temporary outdoor shelter is a critical step toward stability for those in need.”
The mayor thanked City of Hamilton staff, Good Shepherd, the city’s Housing-Focused Street Outreach Team, Dillon Consulting, and Rankin Construction Ltd. for their help with the project.
The tiny shelters project has been marred by controversy and delays, with revelations that the structures were actually manufactured in China rather than locally, despite being purchased from a Brantford-based company.
That company, MicroShelters Inc., was only created on Aug. 28, 2024, and was chosen by the city to deliver the shelters without a proper competitive procurement process or due diligence, with the city citing time constraints.
Additionally, the shelters were supposed to be up by Dec. 20, 2024, but the project was delayed due to shipping issues.
The city has also not been clear on the costs of the tiny shelters since the number provided to the public did not include taxes, shipping, or duties.
A City Council motion in January directed staff to report back this month with a review of the tiny shelter purchase.
The content of that review remains to be seen.
Previous coverage of that City Council motion can be read here, while details on other controversies regarding the project can be found here.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
