What London's new micro-modular shelter site will look like, and when it'll open

More details are now available about how a farmer's field in south London will be transformed to shelter up to 60 homeless people starting in January.

A report submitted to a council committee earlier this week shows exactly what the city-owned property at 1710 Wilton Grove Rd. will look like once modular shelters are installed. It also explains that a private company, Xpera, has been hired to over the fenced-in cul-de-sac village

The $7 million project that's being paid for out of a contingency reserve fund is scheduled to stay open until April 2027.

“We're happy with the progress we're making ... and there's definitely been a lot of interest in it [from unhoused Londoners],“ said Chris Green, the city’s shelter project manager.

The expedited plan to create the site was first reported by CBC News in late September, after Mayor Josh Morgan used his strong mayor powers to direct city staff to draft a plan.

The hope was that the shelters would open in late December, but Green said the aim now is to have residents move in in January.

“We are working as fast as possible," he said. "It will be a slow build-up to capacity."

The plans show the shelters arranged in three clusters, each on a paved road lined with four smaller groupings of five shelters. The cluster system will allow operators to group people based on their needs and circumstances, Green said.

Green said the design was informed by conversations with other municipalities, and has the advantage of good sightlines for security workers. He also hopes it will bring residents a sense of community.

The shelters themselves, constructed by Hamilton-based Fero International, have been ordered at a price tag of $1,265,770, according to the report. They should start arriving this month and will include heating and air conditioning, lighting inside and outside, and outlets for charging devices.

The site will also include washroom trailers, a dining hall and kitchen, onsite supports including for Ontario Works, and more.

Renderings attached to the report show off the three different colour patterns the shelters will come in, with site plan drawings showing the expected layout of the shelters and onsite services.

As for the reasoning behind picking a security firm to run the site instead of a local social service, Green said Xpera has experience managing emergencies, including forest fire housing. He said local social service agencies will be asked to provide support for the site.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis said that while he had no part in the selection process, he finds promise in the decision to have Xpera run the site. He explained that he likes the idea of new organizations stepping in to help combat the homelessness crisis in London.