Hamilton city councillors present recommendations for homelessness crisis

In Hamilton, City staff believe their re-submitted encampments proposal is the best course of action to tackle homelessness.

City staff presented their recommendations in the general issues committee meeting on Monday, which include a slate of tiny shelters.

Some council members in the meeting had more questions regarding where the tents will be permitted to go and how the rules will be applied in those areas, prompting some in chambers calling for even more changes to the plan.

Inside the Hamilton council chambers on Monday, Director of Housing Michelle Baird presented revisions to the city staff encampment plan, imploring councillors to embrace it, while staff deal with the crisis on the streets.

“What we’re recommending is that we adopt the protocol, approve it, to provide the guidelines we need while we work on permanent housing,” Baird said.

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The new proposal from city staff includes recommendations to add up to 25 tiny shelters to a strip of land in Hamilton’s north end, on Strachan Ave. between Hughson and Bay streets. The shelters would have heat and air conditioning.

When asked why council landed on Strachan as a location, Jason Thorne, Department of Planning and Economic Development at the City of Hamilton, said they were looking for a site that had a paved area.

“Enough to have a demarcation away from other uses, also an area in close proximity to social services,” Thorne said.

Dozens of tents can be seen in that area on Strachan Ave. now, along with many other areas in the city.

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City staff will also pitch parks and recreation centres to have open access to washrooms and showers along with security and support workers on-site where tents may be.

The proposal also calls for tents to be 100 metres away from schools and playgrounds. And only up to five tents would be allowed in one spot.

“What we want with this protocol is a place to start addressing this crisis in our city,” Mayor Andrea Horwath said.

While there was some support, there was also more pushback following public opinions on where the unhoused population should go. Other councillors say they will not support the new proposal.

Ward 5 councillor Matt Francis proposed a motion to not allow encampments all together unless a ward okays in their area. The motion failed with councilors voting 7-9.