Hybrid shelter open, encampments remain with some unwilling to move
CTV
The Region of Waterloo’s new tiny home hybrid shelter is now open, but what does it mean for encampments dotted across the region?
The Region of Waterloo’s first tiny home hybrid shelter is open, with people starting to move in to some of the 50 cabins at the site late last week.
The Working Centre, who operate the shelter, says they are not giving detailed occupancy numbers, but the first 35 people have visited the site and signed up for a cabin.
They say most of that group has either moved in or is in the process of doing so.
The Region of Waterloo and The Working Centre have prioritized their cabin offers to people living in three large encampments in the region – 100 Victoria St. in Kitchener, Roos Island in Victoria Park and 150 Main St. in Cambridge.
As of Wednesday afternoon, residents remain at all three camps, making it clear the new shelter will not eliminate the need for these encampments.
Around a dozen tents remain at both the Victoria and Weber encampment in downtown Kitchener and behind 150 Main St. in Cambridge.
According to the City of Kitchener, four people are still living on Roos Island, even though public access was blocked off last week.
