Hamilton approves $5.1M in federal funding to cover tiny cabin homeless budget

Hamilton city councillors have approved the use of $5.1 million in federal funding to cover a massive budget overrun on the tiny cabin temporary homeless shelter.

The vote comes after the City’s General Issues Committee approved a staff recommendation to use the federal monies — which were earmarked for addressing encampments — to cover the budget shortfall.

The shelter site at the Tiffany Barton lands had a capital budget of $2.8 million, but the City spent $7.9 million to construct the site, for a total budget overage of $5.1 million.

Before the vote ultimately passed, councillors debated if the federal money should be used, or if the City itself should cover the cost from its reserves so the federal money could be used elsewhere on the homelessness file.

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