THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s city council has granted its support in principle to a pilot project exploring the potential of so-called “tiny homes” to meet local housing needs.
Councillors were careful Monday to confirm with staff that the gesture didn’t tie the city to any specific actions, such as offering funding, in-kind support, or discounted land.
While councillors said they strongly supported the initiative, several wanted to see more details – and support from provincial and federal governments – before committing city resources.
“I’m fully supportive of the tiny homes initiative, that’s not the issue here at all,” said Coun. Rebecca Johnson. “But I look at this resolution that’s in front of us this evening and I have a couple of concerns.”
“I have no idea what the cost of that is, what that will mean for staff time, and all the rest of it.”
Coun. Aldo Ruberto, who has championed the project at council, said the city’s endorsement could be crucial in securing financing from funders like the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
He emphasized council would remain free to approve or reject any future requests related to the project, and said the group was mainly looking to upper levels of government for dollars.
“We want to minimize our ask [of the city] as much as possible and try to get other levels of funding to support us, because realistically, this is a provincial and federal matter, not a city matter,” he said. “[The city is] out of our box here doing what we can trying to solve this problem.”
The Tiny Homes Thunder Bay group, which includes the Lakehead Social Planning Council, Poverty Reduction Strategy, Matawa First Nations Management, and others, presented their vision for an initial pilot project to council in December.
The project is expected to involve six, roughly 340 square foot homes, with the group eyeing a strip of land on Algoma Street North, adjacent to Matawa’s newly-acquired training and wellness centre, formerly the Dawson Court home for the aged.
Project leaders have said they’ll target the homes to those who are precariously housed. Ruberto said Monday they intend to prioritize units for groups like people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and people experiencing mental health struggles.
It’s also hoped the project will serve as proof of concept for the tiny homes model, which Ruberto said will have broader appeal, saying he’d heard interest from couples and those who live alone, and those struggling with the cost of housing.
Coun. Andrew Foulds echoed the sentiment.
“I think there’s huge potential,” he said. “I think this could be a real seismic shift in the way people think, and I think as soon as you get it up, others will recognize this as something good, and [they’ll] take on this challenge and develop other models.”
Matawa also hopes it could replicate the model in more remote First Nations.
Many municipalities are exploring the concept, said Mayor Bill Mauro, and there are “lots of great examples across North America of where it’s working.
As well as confirming council’s support for the project in principle, the motion passed Monday directs city administration to “continue to work with the Tiny Homes Thunder Bay Steering Committee within current policies and authority and advise city council should their approval be required for associated work on this file.”
The tiny homes committee recently secured seed funding from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to develop a business plan for the pilot, and is working to develop cost estimates, final designs, and a funding strategy.
