Hamilton council to discuss approved temporary housing action plan

Hamilton city council will be discussing the plan to reduce homelessness and manage encampments after the general issues committee last week saw new plans approved.

In a 12-4 vote, council approved the decision to establish the encampment site at Barton and Tiffany streets, taking steps to create a longer-term plan to help the nearly 300 people living in encampments across the city.

The vote to add 192 new temporary shelter beds to facilities such as the YWCA, Mission Services and The Good Sheppard passed unanimously.

Mayor Andrea Horwath says the goal is to have these temporary shelters in place by the time the snow flies.

Another agenda item at Wednesday morning’s meeting is the Stoney Creek parking lot conversion plan.

Horwath used her mayoral power to push the project forward after it was struck down during a council meeting earlier this year.

The topic was brought up again in the council meeting two weeks ago, in a heated discussion where a report said the Director of Projects and Development for the Indwell Housing Organization violated lobbying rules with other city officials.

The council meeting is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

– with files from Simone Gavros

READ MORE: Hamilton council votes to approve sanctioned encampment site, new shelter beds

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