City's plan for outdoor shelter on Barton Street moves ahead after councillors vote in favour

After hours of debate, city councillors have voted in favour of a temporary outdoor shelter space on Barton Street West. 

City staff presented a report at a general issues committee meeting on Wednesday recommending a 40-unit outdoor shelter. The shelter is set to house approximately 80 people. The decision still needs to be ratified at a city council meeting.

The report comes a few weeks after Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath asked staff to figure out how sanctioned encampment sites could be ready this year.

Ward 3 councillor Nrinder Nann said "to all the residents expressing their deep desires for a city, neighbourhoods and parks, as spaces that can be truly a place of belonging for all, we hear you loud and clear."

She said "with the passing of this recommendation report we will continue to make improvements and continue to put passion, compassion and care into action together."

According to the report, the outdoor shelter is primarily meant to house couples and people with pets who may not be allowed to stay together in indoor shelters.

Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch said, during the meeting, this plan will allow the city to shelter more people from the winter cold.

Kroetsch said although it will not be able to serve everybody, it will be a good path forward to "bridge that gap."

"We simply cannot tell people that they have nowhere to live," he said.

Councillors also voted to revisit the encampment protocol — a set of rules that stipulate where people can and cannot pitch tents in parks — in early 2025, after the outdoor shelter and additional indoor shelter spaces are added, to discuss whether encampments should continue to be allowed in parks.

Project will cost city approximately $7M

City staff estimate the project will cost approximately $7 million for 80 shelter beds until December of next year.

They recommended a plot of city-owned land located on the north side of Barton Street West between Caroline Street North and Hess Street North as the best available space. 

They considered proximity to essential services like hydro and sewage, accessibility for first-responders, proximity to transit and more. It is expected to be finished and operational by Dec. 1.

The site would have 40 units, two common buildings, and a supply of food, washrooms and laundry facilities.

Councillors also approved seven full-time staff to work on the project.

Staff also recommended in the report that encampments not be allowed in a one-kilometre radius from the site, meaning Bayfront Park, Pier 4 and Central Park would no longer be encampment spaces.

'We need more recovery,' Coun. Pauls says

Gessie Stearns, a homelessness researcher, said while delegating at the meeting she's worried about the lack of a long-term plan to get people out of their current situations.

"I was really hoping … that this report would have presented that opportunity to people, boast about your concrete wins, connect them to people now, create a trust with direct accountability," she said.

Stearns compared the outdoor shelter to food banks, established in the '80s as a temporary solution to a recession.

Ward 7 councillor Esther Pauls voted against the recommendation to build the temporary outdoor shelter.

She said the city is not doing enough to help people struggling with addiction.

"When I read this [report], I think 'where are those supports to get them off drugs?'" she said.

"We need more recovery."

192 beds approved for indoor shelters

Councillors unanimously approved a recommendation by city staff in the report that included the addition of 192 beds to existing shelters in the city that will cost a total of around $9.7 million until December of 2025.

The new beds would increase shelter capacity 56 per cent from 341 beds to 533 as follows:

• 10 beds for women and gender diverse people at Interval House of Hamilton, six of them to be pet friendly.
• 45 beds for asylum seekers of all genders provided by Wesley and Refugee Newcomer Health.
• 20 beds for all genders provided by Wesley.
• 20 beds for women and gender diverse people at the YWCA.
• 20 beds for men and gender diverse people at the Salvation Army.
• 15 beds for women and gender diverse people at Mission Services Emma's Place.
• Eight beds for men and gender diverse people at Mission Services Men's Services.
• 50 beds for men and gender diverse people at Good Shepherd Cathedral.

All recommendations in the report must still get final approval at council.

How they voted

For: Ted McMeekin (Ward 15), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3), Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11), John-Paul Danko (Ward 8), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10), Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2), Craig Cassar (Ward 12), Brad Clark (Ward 9), Alex Wilson (Ward 13) and mayor Andrea Horwath.

Against: Tom Jackson (Ward 6), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14), Matt Francis (Ward 5) and Esther Pauls (Ward 7).