Five structures built by a company called Tiny Tiny Homes have been erected in St. James Park in downtown Toronto.
The homes are housing several people experiencing homelessness. They are heated with diesel fuel, have solar panels for power, and are equipped with running water thanks to a battery-powered pump hooked up to a tank.
It also comes with a fire extinguisher and dual-carbon monoxide and smoke detector.
Mike McDougall calls one of the structures home. He said the shelter system doesn’t work for him and finds the structure much more comfortable than a tent.
“I kinda like my home. I like having the independence, I’ve always like that. Standing on my own. I had my place for nine years before it went, and I’d like to get back to it,” he told CTV News Toronto Friday.
But the campers dotting the park located near Adelaide Street East and Jarvis Street are a concern for many living and working nearby.
“With the diesel gas cans, there are a lot of kids that come in this park. I feel if the tiny homes were in a more safe area, instead of a park in the middle of the city it would be easier to actually house people,” said barber Sam Ackie.
The Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization (DCCO) said it sent a letter to the city about the structures two weeks ago.
“This is not acceptable that people are not going to put up with this,” said Dana McKiel with the DCCO.
The group said the first Tiny Tiny Homes arrived in the park in October and grew to five structures, and it is concerned more of them are going to be installed in the park and other city parks.
Chris Moise, the city councillor for the area, told CTV News Toronto that he wants the tiny homes removed. He noted the owner of the structures is operating outside of the city.
“I feel they are not safe,” said Moise. “They are not legal, and I have asked staff to look at some options at how we can get these structures out.”
“Where would you rather have them sleep?” said Tiny Tiny Homes founder Ryan Donais. “Because if they weren’t there, they would be sleeping on the ground.”
Donais said the people who live in the homes are vetted by a community agency, and the materials, which cost about $10,000, come from private donations.
He said the homes are meant to help transition people to more stable long-term housing.
“Why don’t we kill two birds with one stone? Why don’t we get our parks back and house people at the same time? These units are very, very light. They are very, very portable. It’s very easy to roll it up and get our parks back,” Donais said.
Donais suggested the homes could go on a lot, which is currently planned for one of the future shelter sites.
Moise said he put a motion forward to have staff look at possible appropriate locations for structures.
“City staff have spoken to the owner of Tiny Tiny Homes and outlined the expectation that the company, and all Torontonians, only engage in activities that respect the municipal bylaws,” said city spokesperson Elise von Scheel in an email to CTV News Toronto.
She said in addition to structures not being permitted in parks, generators and fuel sources are not allowed due to fire risk.
“We are committed to providing critical services to people experiencing homelessness while ensuring that residents are safe and communities have use of Toronto’s greenspaces,” von Scheel said.
“We will continue to have open dialogue with the business owner. As with all bylaw enforcement, the first step is education and collaboration. We will assess what additional measures might be required on a case-by-case basis.”
