Temporary Village Proposed Sites
Our community is facing an urgent challenge. More people in Thunder Bay are living without shelter, often in tents in areas called encampments.
At one point this year, about 200 people in our community didn't have a place to live or shelter.
While housing and homelessness are managed by the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB), it’s the City’s job to manage public spaces and care for all our residents, including the most vulnerable.
The City of Thunder Bay wants to help with the immediate problem while the TBDSSAB and community organizations work on creating more permanent housing.
What happened at City Council?
On October 21st, City Council approved recommendations from City staff to make our response to encampments even better. One of the recommendations was to establish a Temporary Village Initiative to help get people out of tents and into mini units. City Council approved that recommendation, conditional on a final location recommendation. This survey is gathering public input to help City Staff make that final location recommendation.
Report 1: Enhanced Encampment Response - A Human Rights-Based Community Action Plan for Thunder Bay
- This ten-part plan enhances the City's response to encampments. It upholds the dignity and human rights of people living in encampments while addressing broader community concerns.
Report 2: Temporary Village Initiative - Human Rights-Based Community Action Plan
- The Temporary Village Initiative is a part of the plan that would have secure living units with essential services and wraparound support. The Village gives people a better place to live than a tent, helps them stabilize, and transition into an appropriate housing option.
Check out the Documents tab for the full reports!
What is a temporary village?
A temporary village is:
- NOT the same as an encampment. They are secure and dignified mini units with heating and electricity.
- An organized and structured environment with on-site staff and security, and communal bathrooms and laundry units.
- A temporary, stopgap measure to help get people off the street and connected to supportive services that will help them transition into housing.
Why not invest in permanent housing?
We know the real solution is building more housing options and groups like the TBDSSAB are already working on it, but building housing takes time. This year, we had more people living outside than ever before, and they need help sooner rather than later.
That’s why the City is suggesting a "Temporary Village." This would give people a dignified, clean, and secure place to stay and stabilize until housing options are available to them. The Temporary Village would also make things better for the whole community, with improvements like fewer tents in parks, better public safety, and a cleaner city.
City Staff are looking at two locations for the Temporary Village.
Here are the details:
Site A - Kam River Heritage Park - Dock Street
Strengths
- Can fit up to 100 units.
- This is a current encampment and it is near supports and services.
- Investing in power, sewer, and water upgrades can help with future revitalization efforts.
Open space on Duncan Street at Kam River Heritage Park - image from Google Street View
Limitations
- The City would need to relocate people currently living at the site.
- Location is one of the few waterfront parks in the area.
- Power, water, and sewer upgrades are above the budget cap.
Site B - Municipally-owned property - 114 Miles Street East
Strengths
- Can support up to 80 units.
- Permanent power, water, and sewer upgrades are within the budget cap.
- Location is very close to supports and services and there's no need to move anyone.
Municipally-owned space at 114 Miles Street
Limitations
- New location where people have not lived in an encampment.
- It cannot fit as many units as Site A.
We want your feedback on these two sites. Deadline for survey submissions has been extended to November 4th. Your input will help shape our decision on the Village's recommended site.
Thank you for being part of the conversation!
