Kitchener’s new homeless community deserves support

When governments can’t solve a serious social problem on their own, they should get behind or out of the way of those who can.

A case in point is Kitchener’s 12-cabin settlement for the homeless that was erected this month on a privately owned industrial site in the city’s south end.

When a similar community of 40 tiny homes opened in San Jose last February, none other than California Gov. Gavin Newsom came out to celebrate a major victory in the fight against homelessness.

“The state vision to solve this crisis will be realized at the local level, project by project,” said the leader of a jurisdiction with a population greater than Canada’s. And no one could doubt where he stood on the issue.

So why, given such glowing feedback south of the border, has the response of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo officials been so lukewarm to what’s happening in their own backyard? While more than 20 other Canadian cities have asked for details about the inspiring project in Kitchener, these two local governments are hemming and hawing over how — or if — it will be allowed to fit in here.

Our local leaders need to realize that what they’re seeing at 41 Ardelt Place isn’t a problem. It’s a solution.

Despite the best efforts by regional leaders, at least 200 people in this, one of Canada’s richest communities, go without proper shelter every night of the year. And so they sleep in storefronts, unlocked cars, under bridges or in tents pitched in public parks — often to the consternation of surrounding residents.

Such shabby, make-do accommodation is no answer to homelessness. Aware of this, entrepreneur Ron Doyle who owns the Ardelt Place site welcomed in May about 20 homeless people to what’s being called The Better Tent City. First there were tents. Now there are small, one-room cabins.

Kitchen, toilet, shower and laundry facilities onsite make it far easier and more hygienic for the residents to meet their basic needs than if they were sleeping rough. Meanwhile, Jeff Willmer, Kitchener’s former chief executive, and local housing advocate Nadine Green are offering expertise and practical guidance.

So far it’s working. The Better Tent City is serving an urgent need that was not being met by local governments or social service agencies. The people using it love it. And their cabins are meant to be a temporary home that keeps them healthy and happy until they can transition to a more permanent accommodation and the lifestyle that can support it.

The question is: Can this worthy project continue? To be fair, the Kitchener and San Jose tiny-home communities are not identical. While the Kitchener project is a grassroots venture, the San Jose community is operated by a nonprofit group on land owned by the local transit authority. The local government was on side from the start, too.

Clearly, the City of Kitchener and Waterloo Region must consider the legal status of the Ardelt Place community, particularly when it comes to ensuring it meets vital safety standards. But surely these concerns can be met. If local municipal officials need advice on how to achieve this, they should contact their counterparts in San Jose.

While the City of Kitchener waits for its new housing strategy to be released later this year, Doyle, Willmer and Green are making a difference in sheltering the homeless today. They know homelessness is a crisis in this region. They also know that in a crisis, you have to be ready to try new solutions.