Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters plans to build tiny cabin community

Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) is planning on building a tiny home community near Barton Street and Sherman Avenue in Hamilton to house some of the city’s homeless population.

The plan is to provide tiny cabins under 100 square feet in size, but some neighbours are upset about the location.

Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters is looking to build a temporary tiny cabin community on a vacant lot for the next two winters, they already have the green light from the land owner and are now just trying to raise enough money.

HATS says each unit costs roughly $5,000 and will have a kitchen facility and washroom facility on a trailer for the people living in the tiny shelter community.

CHCH News asked residents on Earl Street how they feel about the idea and the reaction was mixed.

Tony D’Amato Stortz was the superintendent at a similar site in Kitchener and says it’s been a success in that city.

“When people are stabilized in these tiny homes, the issues around homelessness often decrease because loitering, those kinds of public nuisance problems of homelessness go away if someone has a home. That’s really what this project is trying to offer, a home,” D’Amato Stortz said.

HATS officials say the residents of this tiny community will be chosen by various community organizations that work with the homeless.