Westdale Construction Students Build Tiny Shelter for Locals Living Unhoused
Westdale students are building a tiny cabin in the woodworking shop as part of a community push to house those experiencing homelessness.
“As we move away from the pandemic, students have been eager to re-engage and get involved with our community again,” said David Kipp, a Construction Technology teacher at Westdale.
Their latest opportunity came as the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) plans to erect Hamilton’s first tiny cabin community this winter. It’s GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $8,000 to build the tiny cabins, as well as provide infrastructure and wrap-around services for residents.
At Westdale, students are enrolled in Construction Technology (TCJ3E2) with Kipp all morning, but at the same time earn the college credit, Introduction to Construction (BLDG 10016). Some Westdale students are in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), while others are in the Construction Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM).
“Developing this relationship with HATS came at an ideal time,” Kipp said. “The students and I are excited to be working with them and to see change that can happen in our community.”
At Mohawk College, instructor Marty Umanetz is the co-teacher on the project who helped source materials. One student has already built a mini cabin to scale.
HATS explains that the proposed tiny shelter community will help provide unhoused people with stability, warmth and safety while supporting them with social services. Each cabin costs about $5,000 to build, with a bed, microwave, small fridge and heating inside its 100 square feet space.
People living unhoused gave input, so the design reflects their needs. HATS hopes to raise enough funds to build 10 tiny shelters, as well as a communal meeting space and washroom facilities.
“This winter is predicted to be particularly cold, so we must do all we can to get the cabins on the ground,” said Julia Kollek, Chair of HATS, which hopes to announce a potential location next month.
“It would be a private space where people could feel safe and heal,” said Tom Cooper, Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, and a HATS Board member.
You can learn more through the HATS social media accounts.
Updated on Monday, October 31, 2022.