Ontario Construction News staff writer
In response to a mayoral direction issued on Feb. 28, the City of Guelph is looking for private property donations to establish a “temporary structured encampment” as part of ongoing efforts to address unsheltered homelessness.
Interested property owners are invited to identify potential sites suitable for conversion into temporary structured encampments. Selected sites will serve as temporary housing for people in need for a minimum of three years.
While properties within one kilometre of the downtown core are preferred, all submissions will be considered.
Property owners interested in contributing to this initiative are encouraged to submit their name, contact information, and potential location address to purchasing@guelph.ca by April 26, but submissions will continue to be welcomed beyond this date.
Later this spring, staff will present a report to city council in follow-up to the mayoral direction that prompted this outreach.
Peterborough city council approved a modular bridge housing community project in May 2023 and construction was completed Nov. 16.
The 50 units have heating and cooling and are furnished with beds, bedding, a mini fridge, shelving, and storage space. Residents are given dressers, chairs, laundry baskets, cutlery, night stands and lamps.
A key feature of the site is a service hub to support the residents accessing available services and staff support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Elizabeth Fry Society operates the site.
The City of Peterborough, Elizabeth Fry Society and other agencies who support individuals living outside collaborated on the selection of the people who were offered units in the Modular Bridge Housing Community. All individuals selected were experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
The modular bridge housing site is part of the city’s Interim Housing Solutions strategy to provide residents with stable connections to support services and help progress people toward permanent housing.