Habitat for Humanity has postponed a project to build five tiny affordable housing units in Sarnia, over concerns related to its proximity to a homeless encampment at Rainbow Park.
The non-profit organization initially planned to have shovels in the ground at 236 Christina St. S. by May 2025.
CEO David Waters said, after consideration, the decision to postpone the project was made with the health and safety of staff and volunteers in mind.
"We're still going to build it," said Waters. "It's part of our 2025-2026 plan but it's just moved to 2026 instead."
Waters said there have been several incidents at their builds in central Sarnia over the last two years.
"With folks wandering about, sleeping in the basements of our temporary build homes or stealing things from our sites, sort of ongoing problems in central Sarnia," he said. "We've never been across from an encampment before so it's just trying to protect our team and volunteers."
Initially, Waters said they received "a lot" of applications for the units and there was a positive response to the tiny homes concept.
"Then we noticed a trend. Related or not related, I don't know, but when the encampment started to take shape at Rainbow Park, our applications stopped. So we got a whole bunch and then they just stopped," Waters said. "Again, not saying it's encampment related, maybe it's just the fact that they're too small for some people... but that coincided with each other."
Waters added that two applications were withdrawn.
He said the delay has been discussed with Sarnia's mayor.
Mayor Mike Bradley told Sarnia News Today that while he's disappointed about the postponement, he understands.
"Fully understand the reasoning and look forward to the project proceeding after the other build," Bradley said in an emailed statement.
Now that the tiny homes project in Sarnia has been postponed, Waters said plans have shifted to start building in Forest next year.
He said at least one build in Forest will begin in April 2025 but site development is still underway for another location to build three or four units.
"We weren't planning to go there next year, our site plan development was not prepared because we had everything ready for Christina Street, so we're still waiting for the site plan to be developed," Waters said. "But the idea is to build four or five [homes] in Lambton Shores."
It's hoped the second site plan in Forest will be ready for construction in May or June 2025.
Habitat for Humanity is currently working on two builds in Sarnia on Grey Crescent. Waters said they hope to complete the homes by the end of January 2025.
Waters said they will discuss current and future Habitat projects during a town hall meeting on November 7. They'll also discuss affordable housing in general and there will be a question-and-answer period.
Residents are welcome to attend the meeting at the Sarnia Library Auditorium from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.