It’s official – city council won’t fund a sanctioned, temporary structured encampment … at least not on its own.
Rather, council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to forward a staff report highlighting logistical concerns with the concept to a joint social services committee led by the County of Wellington for consideration and asked the committee to review a community proposal to do something similar.
The county's Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee is next scheduled to meet on June 12, although no agenda for that meeting is yet available.
Guelph City Council didn’t discuss the issue prior to voting, which confirmed its decision from earlier in the month when it met as the committee of the whole.
That decision came on the heels of a city staff report advising council not to move forward with the idea because it falls outside the scope of the city’s mandate and would cause additional budget pressures.
The county oversees housing programs on the city's behalf.
City staff estimate an encampment of 50 modular units would have up-front costs of $2.5 million and ongoing operating costs estimated to be in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 per unit annually, or another $2 million to $2.5 million per year for 50 units.
That report was prepared in response to a strong mayor order from Mayor Cam Guthrie in February.
The Guelph Tiny Homes Coalition (GTHC) proposes a community of 25 to 50 tiny homes be established, with shared kitchen, washroom and laundry areas, along with the provision of health, mental health and other wrap-around services residents may need.
It’s the GTHC effort city council wants the county to review and consider supporting.
Group spokesperson Mike Marcolongo challenged city staff’s cost estimates during the committee of the whole meeting, suggesting it could be done at a lower cost with community volunteers and fundraising.
Tuesday’s approved council motion also instructed city staff to identify city-owned properties that could be suitably used for a temporary, structured encampment and identify anticipated city costs to prepare the land, including servicing requirements as well as zoning and other needed approvals.
