Dozens of geared-to-income apartments open in Hamilton for women, non-binary and Indigenous residents

Residents are in the midst of moving into a new, geared-to-income apartment building in Hamilton, an example of the kind of supportive housing that is "key to ending homelessness," said Katherine Kalinowski, chief operating officer of Good Shepherd.

Dorothy Day Place, a five-storey building at 35 Arkledun Avenue run by Good Shepherd, has 73 supportive housing units for women and non-binary people facing homelessness. It was built with the help of a $4.8-million investment from the Ontario government.

The province has invested another $2 million to help create 12 supportive housing units for young Indigenous parents at the former CD Sports Bar at Ottawa Street North and Cannon Street East, which became an Indwell building in September, 2022. 

"We need adequate stock, affordability and for those who face the most barriers, different models of supportive housing," Kalinowski told reporters Friday, as Steve Clark, minister of municipal affairs and housing, visited Dorothy Day Place.

Clark's visit to Hamilton comes as city councillors mull over how to solve the city's affordable housing crisis, which has forced some people to live in tents outside.

It also came on the same day demonstrators protested encampment evictions and city council's current exploration of an "advocate registry," which would allow residents to host someone experiencing homelessness.

"We'll continue to work with municipalities if the group wants to sit down with the city and have a chat," said Clark, when asked about the protesters's demands.

He also said tackling homelessness will require an "all-government" approach, with various provincial ministries to "come to the table."

'It provides you with dignity and respect'

Kalinowski said the studio apartments at Dorothy Day Place should all be occupied in the next week or so.

She said some of the residents recently lived in local encampments.

Kalinowski said the building allows for people to stay for as long, or as short as they want, as people don't have to focus on surviving.

"Staff are really committed to no one returning to homelessness, it's a primary focus of the work," she said.

The building also has common spaces, rooms to take a private bath in addition to individual showers, and a wellness office with doctors from the Shelter Health Network and access to nurse practitioners.

The building also offers people three full meals a day if they want, but the studio units also have cooking facilities, their own washrooms, televisions and free local phone service.

Some units also have extra sound-proofing.

One woman who recently moved in told reporters that having access to the building will help her build her business and focus on her personal goals.

As a domestic violence survivor, the woman said she was also in need of a safe home. CBC Hamilton agreed not to identify her because of the potential risk to her safety.

"I need people to understand how grateful we are … when I was told I was accepted the tears just popped out of my head," she said. 

"It provides you with dignity and respect."