Outreach - Part 5

At the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) "open cabin" event on Friday April 1st:

The Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) and the Christ’s Church Cathedral congregation held an "open cabin" event on Friday April 1st, in the Bishopsgate plaza at 252 James St North, Hamilton.

This first tiny cabin is to be be situated at the Anglican cathedral for community demonstration purposes over the coming months. Tiny cabins are designed to provide warm, safe shelters for those experiencing homelessness. HATS is hoping to bring these cabins to Hamilton as a temporary but practical response to gaps in our growing housing crisis.

Cabins feature a bed, mattress and bedding; a microwave and small fridge; heating and power outlets; as well as a shelf for personal belongings. The building materials are sprayed with fire retardant ahead of construction and will be insulated.

The Back Yard, a cabin-maker based in Stoney Creek, has generously donated and built the demonstration tiny cabin.

http://www.hats.hamiltonpoverty.cary units.

Winston Lindley, Ted McMeekin and Barbara Hallam were the participants of a question and answer presentation on Homelessness and Affordable Housing. The following answers are the highlights of the questions posed.

Topic - Homelessness

Q: Members of the Outreach Committee attended the ‘Open Cabin Event’ hosted by the Hamilton Alliance of Tiny Shelters (HATS) last Friday.  What is the major obstacle facing HATS to see this project through?

A: A major obstacle facing HATS is what can be labeled ‘political nimbyism’. Politicians want to talk about the wonderful work they do but it ‘falls a little flat’ when the city is reluctant to waive zoning and bylaw provisions in the cause of assisting our unhoused people. We need to talk - we need to be patient. On the bright side, there is a meeting with the City of Hamilton next week - there is hope of movement.

Topic - Affordable Housing

Q: One of the issues facing the development of affordable housing is the developers’ interests. How can geared-to-income housing be made more attractive to builders?

A: The municipal government cannot run a deficit, and governments do not build houses - builders do. There is a need to find a way to build a collaborative partnership with the building community, the non-profit sector (eg Indwell), and all levels of government.

One idea put forward by Ted McMeekin is to pull together a housing summit of all levels of government, non-profit organizations and the private sector. To be effective all parties would need to leave their biases and personal interests behind and develop a shared purpose. Creating a land trust of government owned land would help.

For approximately $1 billion, 3000 units could be built which would reduce and even eliminate the waitlist for housing. Builders say it could be done if certain provisions were met, such as waiving development fees and taxes on purpose-built housing and allowing secondary units.

Topic – How can St. Paul’s help

Q: The Outreach Committee is focusing on Homelessness and Affordable Housing .  How can the congregation at St. Paul’s make a difference?

A: The decision to focus on Homelessness and Affordable housing speaks volumes for our quest for social justice. There is a lot of learning that has been achieved and more to be done to fully understand this complex issue.

We need to encourage leaders to be more responsive, creative and innovative in resolving these issues. With elections coming, we need candidates to fully explain their position on housing and impress upon them the need to take action.

Also, instead of a generic format for a candidates’ meeting, perhaps a series of themed events on issues such as homelessness and affordable housing and climate change would offer more opportunity for clear dialogue.