Source From: Guelph Mercury
The prototype was built on lessons learned from other projects to support the homeless
Mike Marcolongo speaks about the first tiny home.
Tiny homes could soon be part of Guelph’s housing continuum. The Guelph Tiny Homes Coalition has built a model unit, and they brought it down to Wyndham Street on Wednesday.
“Let’s build momentum,” said Mike Marcolongo, speaking for the group. “We can make this happen.”
He said the prototype was built on lessons learned from other projects.
“We’ve worked closely with other allies and service providers like the CMHA, the Guelph Community Health Centre, Stonehenge and more. We have a lot of supporters and are currently working with the city to identify the best location for the project,” said Marcolongo.
Members of the community and Guelph Tiny Home Coalition gather in front of the first tiny home built in Guelph.
The coalition is also hoping Wellington County can connect them with the list of folks in need of housing, that shelter allowance for those on social assistance can contribute to their project and that their tiny homes can be considered part of the housing continuum model.
Marcolongo said the model house is secure, has two windows to allow for a cross breeze and a door that is reinforced to keep the home, and residents, safe. It is constructed with quality materials and metal and insulated with spray foam. It has a high ceiling and measures at 120 square feet. The floor is also insulated, he said.
“It will keep the home cool, keep the residents cool, and also warm in the winter,” Marcolongo said.
He said tiny homes allow for someone to live with a partner or even a pet, which is not allowed in the shelter system.
Daisy came with her owner to see the tiny home.
“Let’s get people back onto the housing ladder,” said Marcolongo.
And some folks did climb a short ladder to get up into the tiny home on the truck bed downtown. One senior left this walker to climb up into the home and knocked on the table for good luck after looking around the space.
Some folks expressed this was a dream come true for those who live rough.
Everyone was eager to see the home on July 3, from folks who would like to live in one to those that work with the community.
Members of city council and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner stopped by to check it out, too.
A new tiny home was open for Guelph to see on July 3.
Mayor Cam Guthrie came by on his electric scooter on his way to a council meeting, and said the tiny home was a true community response to the housing shortage.
“Whatever we can do, not just as a government, but as a community to try to help people in some dire situations to be in a safer place with dignity, care and support around them. It all starts with a secure place to rest your head at night,” Guthrie said.
The city, county and community are taking many different steps to secure both temporary and permanent affordable housing.
“The fact that Guelph has 108 supportive housing units opening in a 12-month period,” he said, “shows that we are actually leading this issue because we knew it was an issue many years ago.”
He said to see the tiny home was inspiring for everyone.
“Sometimes you need to see something, to touch it, walk around in it, to understand,” he said.
Guelph Tiny Homes Coalition banner reads “House People Now! Winter is coming!”
Coun. Phil Allt, Coun. Linda Busuttil and Coun. Carly Klassen all stopped by as well, hoping to see the home, which had been delayed in transport.
“I wish them the best,” said Allt. He hopes to be able to provide ongoing input.
Busuttil said the tiny home was a piece of the puzzle.
“I firmly believe that the housing continuum needs to be flexible and move with the needs of the community,” said Busuttil.
Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner checks out the tiny home.
Schreiner thanked the Guelph Tiny Homes Coalition for its hard work to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
“I just want all of our neighbours to know, especially those who might be experiencing homelessness right now, that we see you, we hear you and we’re going to work with you,” he said.
Marcolongo commended the city’s aspirational leadership and said he hopes to work toward finding a site and building a community of tiny homes as soon as possible.
“We can solve the homelessness crisis in the city. It’s all about leadership,” he said.
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