Region of Waterloo extends funding of Erbs Road shelter to 2030 and beyond

Region of Waterloo councillors approved continued funding of the emergency shelter on Erbs Road through to 2030 and beyond, at a committee meeting on Tuesday.

The funding needed for the shelter to become a permanent fixture includes $2.6 million in 2025, part of which will be used to install a full sanitary line hooked up to the City of Waterloo’s wastewater collection system.

According to regional staff, the shelter is an “essential action” in Waterloo Region’s broader plans to end chronic homelessness.

The once temporary shelter opened at 1001 Erbs Rd. in 2023 and is made up of 50 tiny homes. It has supported about 100 people in that time, 20 per cent of whom have gone on to find permanent housing elsewhere.

At the Community and Health Services Committee meeting, Councillor Jan Liggett asked the delegates representing the Erbs Road shelter how the number of people moving on to find permanent housing could be increased.

Jay Strauss, manager and coordinator of the Erbs Road shelter, said bumping up the numbers relies on resolutions to a number of larger, societal issues.

“When opportunities do present themselves, we move on them, but there are very few opportunities for people with limited income in order to make that next step,” said Strauss.

He added that powers outside of his control, like the Region of Waterloo, need to build more affordable and supportive housing to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Forty-six of the 50 people who currently live at the shelter experience chronic homelessness, meaning they’ve been without a home for six months, according to Joe Mancini of The Working Centre.

David Alton of the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region conducted a third-party review of the site, interacting with the people that live there.

Residents told Alton and his team that they felt like they would be back on the street if the shelter were to close, and they felt like there was no way they would find housing before the shelter closed.

Some residents and businesses located near the shelter have reported negative outcomes due to the shelter’s location, including theft of property and trespassing.

In spite of those and other concerns, Alton says it’s been a powerful resource.

“Despite the loss and harms that some residents have experienced at Erbs Road, this location has been a lifeline for many, and to close it or disrupt it’s operations would put people in a dangerous position,” said Alton.

Natasha Salonen, a Regional Councillor and the Mayor of Wilmot, hears the concerns of residents and raised issues about the regional government’s involvement so far and how it could impact her community going forward.

“I also have residents who have resided on Erbs Road prior to 1001 Erbs Rd. opening up that have security and safety issues now and don’t have the tens of thousands of dollars that the (Waterloo Regional Police Service) suggests in upgrades to their rural properties,” said Salonen. “We’re talking about seniors who live on these properties in many cases.”

The Wilmot mayor added that she does not have faith in the region proceeding as an effective land owner in Wilmot on this project, and cited the region foregoing inspections and disregarding certain permits during the site’s construction.

The balance of council was supportive of the shelter, and the motion to extend it’s life was passed. Councillors Salonen and Liggett were opposed.