Below are three of the PowerPoint slides for the OSHAWA MICRO-HOME PILOT PROJECT presented at Monday's Council meeting by Alan Robins, Director, Housing Services Region of Durham. One is for the Preliminary site layout for 10 micro-homes on corner of Drew and Olive; another for the Preliminary Unit Concept plan for the Self Contained, Temporary and moveable units similar to Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation Model (not container); and another showing the site selection: .567 acre on Barrie Ave.; 5 lots on Banting (2 totaling .426 acre and 3 totaling .33 acre) and 5 lots totaling .433 acre on Drew St.
The site chosen at Drew St and Olive will have 10 units that are:
•Self Contained •Temporary and moveable •Similar to Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation Model (not container)
•Accessible units •Exterior design will consider residential nature of the neighbourhood
Oshawa Council was told that with this transitional housing pilot project the Region would:
►hopefully have people move into these 10 micro-homes which will be clustered into 2 groups of 5 at Olive Ave and Drew St by this October;
►the units will all be accessible, with each a minimum of 330 sq ft, and there will be parking on site;
►the units will be manufactured indoors and services like water, sewer, electrical will be bundled at the back;
►those housed will pay rents but will not be considered tenants under the Residential Tenancy Act and will be housed temporarily as the project at this site will end in 5 years when the construction of the Gibb St/Olive Ave road realignment begins construction. The modular units will then be moved to another to be determined site.
►the construction company cannot be named yet as they are still in negotiations. Likewise they cannot say what the cost will be yet.
The site chosen at Drew St and Olive will have 10 units that are:
•Self Contained •Temporary and moveable •Similar to Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation Model (not container)
•Accessible units •Exterior design will consider residential nature of the neighbourhood
Oshawa Council was told that with this transitional housing pilot project the Region would:
►hopefully have people move into these 10 micro-homes which will be clustered into 2 groups of 5 at Olive Ave and Drew St by this October;
►the units will all be accessible, with each a minimum of 330 sq ft, and there will be parking on site;
►the units will be manufactured indoors and services like water, sewer, electrical will be bundled at the back;
►those housed will pay rents but will not be considered tenants under the Residential Tenancy Act and will be housed temporarily as the project at this site will end in 5 years when the construction of the Gibb St/Olive Ave road realignment begins construction. The modular units will then be moved to another to be determined site.
►the construction company cannot be named yet as they are still in negotiations. Likewise they cannot say what the cost will be yet.
Sidenote: I get that there is a division in the roles, responsibility and mandate of Upper Tier Regional and Lower tier Municipal Governments.
But when it comes to housing for those in great need, imo the time and money invested at the Region needs to show more results. The Region of Durham has a large well-funded Social Services department with capable individuals to advance housing projects. But it turns out the 47 modular unit Beaverton project won't be open until late 2022 at the earliest; and considering the Region's micro-home pilot project was first discussed in 2018, with the one model container set up for public viewing on Albert St. in 2019 in the Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation parking lot, now Oshawa Council learns two years later 10 temporary units may be installed in Oshawa for 10 individual for 5 years. Really that's all??
When schools are empty why are the Region of Durham and Durham Region School Board (DRSB) not arranging an alliance for temporary units. Did you know it is right on the DRSB's website "Vacant school sites may be used at any time by Durham Regional Police Services" Who funds DRPS? The Region of Durham!!
Good for The Refuge making the effort to purchase a vacant school in downtown Oshawa with assistance from the Region. I hope it succeeds and inspires the Region to do more! To this question about vacant schools the Region of Durham has posted on its website that it "has researched many potential sites for development projects, including vacant schools. We will continue to monitor these sites for future project opportunities, once they are deemed surplus to the school boards’ needs. The Region would be required to purchase the property at market rates for redevelopment at that time." It doesn't answer the question why the Region can't make arrangements for "temporary transitional housing" in schools.
The Region of Durham made a "commitment to increasing the supply of affordable rental housing units; with a goal of initiating 1,000 new units by 2024 as outlined in Durham Region's housing plan, At Home In Durham".
When I asked the Region's Housing Director yesterday how many of their 1,000 unit goal of ending homelessness by 2024 will be achieved, he indicated it won't be 1,000 after all.
Mayor Carter said my 5 minutes time for questions and answers was up. Then when Oshawa Regional Councillor Bob Chapman, who is Chair of the Region's Social Services Committee and Vice President of the Durham Region Non Profit Housing Corporation spoke, it seemed like he took that question of mine as a personal slight. He said the Region is providing transitional housing and referred to last summer's temporary Camp Samac shelter and that the Region is paying to have individuals set up in hotels.
Maybe my expectations are too high. I see this may be a baby step. Yes, these micro homes, 'address a dilemma' and remind me of the War Time homes built in Peterborough, which also were considered to be 'temporary', They have a very interesting story https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/foundations-of.../
But when it comes to housing for those in great need, imo the time and money invested at the Region needs to show more results. The Region of Durham has a large well-funded Social Services department with capable individuals to advance housing projects. But it turns out the 47 modular unit Beaverton project won't be open until late 2022 at the earliest; and considering the Region's micro-home pilot project was first discussed in 2018, with the one model container set up for public viewing on Albert St. in 2019 in the Durham Non-Profit Housing Corporation parking lot, now Oshawa Council learns two years later 10 temporary units may be installed in Oshawa for 10 individual for 5 years. Really that's all??
When schools are empty why are the Region of Durham and Durham Region School Board (DRSB) not arranging an alliance for temporary units. Did you know it is right on the DRSB's website "Vacant school sites may be used at any time by Durham Regional Police Services" Who funds DRPS? The Region of Durham!!
Good for The Refuge making the effort to purchase a vacant school in downtown Oshawa with assistance from the Region. I hope it succeeds and inspires the Region to do more! To this question about vacant schools the Region of Durham has posted on its website that it "has researched many potential sites for development projects, including vacant schools. We will continue to monitor these sites for future project opportunities, once they are deemed surplus to the school boards’ needs. The Region would be required to purchase the property at market rates for redevelopment at that time." It doesn't answer the question why the Region can't make arrangements for "temporary transitional housing" in schools.
The Region of Durham made a "commitment to increasing the supply of affordable rental housing units; with a goal of initiating 1,000 new units by 2024 as outlined in Durham Region's housing plan, At Home In Durham".
When I asked the Region's Housing Director yesterday how many of their 1,000 unit goal of ending homelessness by 2024 will be achieved, he indicated it won't be 1,000 after all.
Mayor Carter said my 5 minutes time for questions and answers was up. Then when Oshawa Regional Councillor Bob Chapman, who is Chair of the Region's Social Services Committee and Vice President of the Durham Region Non Profit Housing Corporation spoke, it seemed like he took that question of mine as a personal slight. He said the Region is providing transitional housing and referred to last summer's temporary Camp Samac shelter and that the Region is paying to have individuals set up in hotels.
Maybe my expectations are too high. I see this may be a baby step. Yes, these micro homes, 'address a dilemma' and remind me of the War Time homes built in Peterborough, which also were considered to be 'temporary', They have a very interesting story https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/foundations-of.../
