Dozens of geared-to-income apartments open in Hamilton for women, non-binary and Indigenous residents

Residents are in the midst of moving into a new, geared-to-incomeapartment building in Hamilton, an example of the kind of supportive housing that is "key to ending homelessness," saidKatherine Kalinowski, chief operating officer of Good Shepherd.

Dorothy Day Place,a five-storey building at 35 Arkledun Avenue run by Good Shepherd,has 73 supportive housing units for women and non-binary people facing homelessness. It was built with the help ofa$4.8-millioninvestment from the Ontario government.

The province has invested another$2 millionto help create 12 supportive housing units for young Indigenous parents at the former CD Sports Bar at Ottawa Street North and Cannon Street East, which became an Indwell building in September, 2022.

"We need adequate stock, affordability and for those who face the most barriers, different models of supportive housing,"Kalinowski told reporters Friday, asSteve Clark, minister of municipal affairs and housing, visitedDorothy Day Place.

Clark's visit to Hamilton comes ascitycouncillorsmullover how to solve the city's affordablehousing crisis, which has forcedsome people to live in tents outside.

It also came on the same day demonstrators protested encampment evictions and city council's currentexploration ofan "advocate registry," which would allowresidents to host someone experiencing homelessness.

"We'll continue to work with municipalities if the group wants to sit down with the city and have a chat," said Clark, when asked about the protesters's demands.

He also said tackling homelessness will require an "all-government" approach, with various provincial ministries to "come to the table."

'It provides you with dignity and respect'

Kalinowski said the studio apartments at Dorothy Day Place should all be occupied in the next week or so.

She saidsome of the residentsrecently lived in local encampments.

Kalinowski said the building allows for people to stay for as long, or as short as they want, as people don't have to focus on surviving.

"Staff are really committed to no one returning to homelessness, it's a primary focus of the work," she said.

The building also has common spaces, rooms to take a private bath in addition to individual showers,and a wellness office with doctors from the Shelter Health Network and access to nurse practitioners.

The building also offers people three full meals a day if they want, but the studio units also have cooking facilities, their own washrooms, televisions and free local phone service.

Some units also have extra sound-proofing.

One woman who recently moved intold reporters thathaving access to the building will help her build her business and focus on her personal goals.

As a domestic violence survivor, the woman said she was also in need of a safe home.CBC Hamilton agreed not to identify herbecause of the potential riskto her safety.

"I need people to understand how grateful we are when I was told I was accepted the tears just popped out of my head," she said.

"It provides you with dignity and respect."