Region to open outdoor shelter on outskirts of Waterloo in February

A new outdoor shelter will open on the outskirts of Waterloo, Ont., in the new year.

It will run on a similar model to the tiny home project called A Better Tent City in Kitchener. The region's outdoor shelter in Waterloo will be made up of 50 individual cabins for people who are experiencing homelessness, the region said.

The cabins will be 10 square meters, they will be furnished and will have electricity, heating and cooling. A main cabin will have running water, washrooms, laundry services and a community space.

The planned location for the shelter, which is expected to begin operation in early February 2023, is 1001 Erb's Road. Its located on regionally owned land in the southwest corner of Waterloo and will be near the Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Centre, which has the offices for paramedic services, waste management and a training facility.

On Oct. 4 of this year, the region conducted a survey of people who were, at the time, living in homeless encampments in Kitchener and Cambridge. It found that fewer than half of the 72 people surveyed would be willing to move to another city to be part of a hybrid outdoor/managed shelter.

Mental health and addictions supports

The region said the site was chosen after an "extensive search for a suitable location outside of downtown cores." 

The site will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and managed by The Working Centre. There will be support services and security on site, the region said.

"Services provided will include mental health and addictions supports with a focus on connecting residents to permanent housing options," the region's news release said.

Stephanie Mancini of The Working Centre called the outdoor shelter "a new and important option" for people to receive support and "a place of rest while exploring housing options." 

The region's commissioner of community services, Peter Sweeney, said in an interview that some operational details are still being finalized.

"There will be parts of it that will look similar [to A Better Tent City], however, we are going to leave the final look and feel [and design] of the hybrid shelter to our partners at the Working Centre and most importantly, to the people who live there," he said.

More than 1,000 people experiencing homelessness

Sweeney said the region and its partners are still working out if people living at the shelter will be asked to pay rent or take on chores like at A Better Tent City.

"The basic eligibility criteria is that this is for adults only, and will be offered to those experiencing homelessness — everything else is up for a conversation with The Working Centre and those that choose to say yes [to living in the outdoor shelter]."

A point-in-time count conducted in September 2021 found more than 1,000 people in Waterloo region were experiencing homelessness.

In August, regional council unanimously agreed on a motion that will change the way homelessness is addressed.

The interim housing plan will support those experiencing homelessness by expanding the region's transitional housing program, home-based support program and emergency shelter program.

The plan also includes permitting people who are experiencing homelessness to live in a managed hybrid shelter.

Regional Coun. Jim Erb, who chairs the community and health services committee, said this outdoor shelter is part of the larger plan to end homelessness and the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback next year.

"Listening to those with lived experience is essential for informing the plan and design of this site, and we will continue to listen throughout this process," Erb said in a news release.