There is no denying there are hundreds of homeless people in Waterloo Region, many of whom remain unsheltered. However, to establish ‘A Better Tent City Farm’ to house unsheltered individuals on the agricultural lands owned by the Hamilton Catholic Diocese on Spitzig Road is ill conceived.

The proposed location is in immediate proximity to Woodland Christian High School, which directly abuts the proposed property owned by the Hamilton Catholic Diocese. A Better Tent City (“ABTC”) states in their proposal that most of its residents, “struggle with mental illness, trauma and drug addictions.” ABTC further states that one purpose of the development is to assist residents with methadone treatment. Children attending the Woodland Christian High School should not be in immediate proximity to a development, which houses individuals suffering from mental illness and drug addictions that are receiving methadone treatment. Such a proposal creates an environment where children are exposed to known risks and directly endangers their well-being.

ABTC’s proposed development belongs in the city and not in an agricultural community. The proposed property is undeveloped agricultural land with no access to municipal services (including hydro, sewer or septic services), community resources or even public transportation. The surrounding properties consist of commercial farms, nurseries, and personal residences. This neighbourhood is not conducive to supporting people in need of healthcare, social services, emergency support, or drug addiction services, which requires a strong network of community resources. Residents of ABTC Farm will be located far from the inner city without public transportation, disconnected from the broader supports of their community.

Neighbouring property owners will also suffer adverse impacts to their properties. Property values for neighbouring lands will invariably decrease due to the nature of the proposed development. There will be increased vehicle traffic on Spitzig Road, as various service providers attend at the ABTC Farm to provide support and services to the residents. There will also be increased foot traffic on Spitzig Road from residents of ABTC Farm that have no access to vehicles. This poses a risk to them and drivers, as Spitzig Road does not have sidewalks, lighting, or signage necessary to ensure the safety of drivers and an increased number of pedestrians.
Woolwich Council would be doing a disservice to the local community to allow the development of ABTC Farm on Spitzig Road. ABTC’s proposal misses the mark on creating a safe space that allows community integration for both the residents of ABTC Farm and the surrounding residents. The proposed location simply does not work and needs to be reconsidered.