The City of Hamilton’s tiny shelter site, part of a project that has been marred by controversy and delays, is finally at full capacity, according to a press release issued April 17.
The city says that the site is now home to 80 residents, all of whom were “previously living unhoused.” There are also about 25 pets living there.
Council approved the plan for 40 tiny shelters in September 2024 after receiving a report from staff that recommended a site on a city-owned lot located at Barton Street West and Tiffany Street, near Bayfront Park and the West Harbour GO Station.
The report came after Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath used her strong mayor powers in August 2024 to immediately direct staff to undertake research needed to open a city-sanctioned tiny shelter site before the winter months.
Back at the beginning of March the city said that 24 of the 40 units were operational and that the cabins were opening up in a series of eight phases.
At that time, all 40 cabins were expected to be open by March 14, but actually moving residents into those shelters took additional time, which is why the site did not reach full capacity until more than a month later.
The city also continues to emphasize that the tiny shelters are a “temporary measure,” but they have not said how long the site will be operational.
Horwath previously said, “We are focused on long-term solutions, ensuring people have access to permanent housing and the resources they need for a secure future.”
The 2025 Hamilton tax budget includes a total investment of $192 million in housing and homelessness programs, which include the city’s affordable and social housing, shelters and encampment supports, and tenant support programs.
Of the city’s 5.6 per cent property tax increase, the city’s Reducing Homelessness and Managing Encampments program, which included expanding shelter spaces, accounted for 0.3 percentage points.
Operated by Good Shepherd in partnership with the City of Hamilton, 20 shelter divided units offer a total of 40 beds for singles, and the other 20 units provide 40 spaces for those who are couples.
The tiny home community is designed to accommodate those who have difficulty accessing traditional shelters, particularly those who are couples and/or who have pets.
The site has trailers for washrooms, showers, and laundry, common buildings for residents and staff, and 24/7 on-site support including Good Shepherd staff and third-party security.
They are also providing case management services, health and mental health care, and addiction support, which the city says includes “harm reduction.”
Meals and snacks are also provided, as well as “assistance with transitioning to permanent housing.”
Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie said, “While permanent housing remains our goal, we know there’s an urgent need for temporary housing in our city.”
“With the addition of this 80-bed outdoor shelter site and 192 temporary shelter beds, we’ve increased Hamilton’s shelter system by 80 per cent,” she added.
However, questions remain about the project, which has been marred by controversy and delays, including 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.
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.
