HATS plans on submitting new proposal to city staff in January

The Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) is planning on submitting a proposal to city staff in January, recommending a new location for the alliance’s village.

This comes after the previous location at Hamilton’s Strachan Linear Park was rejected, with members of HATS’ board of directors unanimously voting not to move forward with the two-year pilot project.

The project would have seen 25 tiny insulated cabins built at the park, complete with a communal kitchen tent and bathroom facilities.

The City of Hamilton has proposed building a village of small shelters as a response to the homelessness crisis.

READ MORE: Tiny shelters in Hamilton park cancelled due to costs that are ‘too significant’

HATS rejected the city-proposed Strachan location, saying the site was not ideal and would require an investment that was “too significant” for the alliance to justify.

Now, in a happy holidays message posted on their website, HATS says they intend to submit a proposal in January to recommend an alternative location for a HATS village, with implementation by mid-2024.

“We are grateful for council’s endorsement of a 2-year HATS pilot, we remain optimistic about bringing a HATS implementation to fruition by mid-2024,” HATS said.

READ MORE: Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters search for site after city rejects locations

The alliance has been evaluating new site candidates and reassessing previously examined locations.

Criteria for the site selection is being refined so that the needs of all stakeholders are accommodated.

The alliance says they have extended an invitation to Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath to meet to discuss the next steps in mid to late January.