Horwath directs staff to explore temporary, sanctioned shelter sites [Video]

Mayor Andrea Horwath has directed city staff to begin exploring what it will take to create sanctioned, hard-shelter sites at various outdoor city-owned properties throughout Hamilton.

Unlike the city’s current encampment protocol, this Mayoral Decision aims to explore what it will take to create, acquire and maintain purpose-built structures for Hamilton’s unhoused population.

“I don’t want tents,” Horwath said during Tuesday’s press conference at city hall. “Tents are not an answer. Not with our climate, whether it’s heat or cold.”

In the written directive, Horwath lists several avenues on the matter that must all be researched and presented to council by Sept. 18.

They include exploring the cost of these hard shelters, who sells them, what models are available, how long they take to install, and what basic needs they can fulfill.

Horwath has also instructed city staff to obtain a legal opinion on the matter and determine what operating models will be …