The project to build a temporary village for the homeless in Thunder Bay is good news for stakeholders in the community.
The city council approved a new ten-step plan earlier this week to respond to the growing number of people in encampments. That number peaked at around 200 this summer.
The plan notably provides for the creation of a temporary village which will offer up to 100 spaces for housing for the homeless. They will have access to secure mini housing with access to electricity, drinking water and certain services.
The city’s director of strategy and engagement, Cynthia Olsen, says the plan will be ratified next Monday.
Regarding the establishment of the village, she admits that the project is ambitious.
Under normal circumstances, it will take at least eight months to implement all elements of this plan. Our goal is to have the temporary village and other elements of the plan in place and ready to operate by spring 2025, she explains.
We hope it will be the end of April at the latest
A quote from Cynthia Olsen, City of Thunder Bay
A sigh of relief
Erland Missewace has been homeless for three years. He is a member of the Eabametoong First Nation and grew up in Thunder Bay. He lived in a camp and now sleeps in a shelter.
He believes he will finally feel a sense of security if the City of Thunder Bay moves forward with the creation of the temporary village.
The government assistance he receives for rent is $400. A one-bedroom apartment costs more than $1,000, it’s insane, he points out.
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Erland Missewace is a member of the Eabametoong First Nation. He says he would live in a temporary village if the city implemented the project. He has been homeless for about three years.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Sarah Law/CBC
Hope
For the general director of the Shelter House shelter, Brendan Carlin, the temporary village comes with its share of hope.
It’s a good first step. Provide a warm and safe place. Where you can lock your door and be safe, he said.
For many years the refrain has been to give them [aux itinérants] accommodation. And of course, it’s not as simple as giving everyone a place to live. We also need to provide them with other forms of support. And looking at the City’s report, it seems that this is what it plans to do, he emphasizes, reassured
We have a housing crisis and an addiction crisis here in Thunder Bay. And we will never do enough to get people off the streets and give them the support they need.
A quote from Brendan Carlin, Executive Director Shelter House
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Shelter House shelter executive director Brendan Carlin welcomes the construction of the temporary homeless village.
Photo : CBC/Sarah Law
The cost of construction and infrastructure improvements for the temporary village would be between $5.9 million and $6.8 million, according to a city report.
Other communities in Ontario like Kitchener and Peterborough have had success with homeless village models.
In Vancouver, there is also a similar concept known as modular supportive housing.
With information from Sarah Law
