Toronto erwägt Mikrounterkünfte zur Bekämpfung der Obdachlosigkeit, doch es zeichnen sich einige Herausforderungen ab

Low density, hard to hire somebody to keep on eye on things and make sure things aren’t getting vandalized, not a solution for any homeless person who needs a wheelchair or has mobility issues that make it hard to get up and down the threshold. It would be nice if there were something to grab onto near the doorway so people could use their upper body strength to help them get into and out of these things safely.

Doesn’t seem like a good fit for a dense urban area. Seems like a better choice for a suburb or rural area if you throw a bunch of these in a lot, combined with some shared hygiene facilities, but I’m wondering about cost-efficiency compared to something more traditional. I also can’t help but notice these are so small that they likely are bypassing the need to seek out a permit so there are legal advantages to these.

It is neat how easily these can be transported around, but I don’t know how much sense it makes to move around the shelters compared to moving people to where the shelters are. I might honestly just remove the giant casters that are the „Gimmick“ because I feel people are going to break their ankles trying to get in and out of these things on a regular basis. What happens if some smartass steals or moves the „step“ pallet overnight and then somebody tries to step out of one of these things next morning and doesn’t notice? Could be dangerous if there’s a 70 year old in one of these things. They are pitched as an alternative to tent encampments, but the advantage to tents is you can store a few hundred of them in some storage unit, and then take them out in an emergency, throw them in a truck, and distribute them.

Give people on social assistance enough to afford market rent.

It is impossible to house yourself on $733 a month anywhere in Ontario. That’s the maximum welfare cheque for a single adult. But they subtract $375 if you’re homeless because you don’t have rent costs. Heh.

just let them sleep in government buildings that are air conditioned 365 days a year but are closed 75% of the time

Microshelters on city or private property is still a bandaide. It’s not working in the communities that have already created these little private shelters. I drive by the one in my community and it’s only been opened for 2 months and it is already a dump site and at least 4 people in the fenti fold at any given time around the perimeters. You can’t use the streets within that block as those who live or visit there have no regard for road safety, walking out in front of cars, dropping their bikes and garbage bags on the roads. I give it until the summer and it will be gone. The city tried, it failed…next.

Check out 12 Neighbors in New Brunswick. All begun by one man with his own money. The city provided what was otherwise waste land. Subsequently grants and donations and volunteers came along to help. Other cities are now looking at this as a template. Toronto could learn something from this.

Have you considered trimming a couple weeks off your annual European vacation?