The Not Alone Team Quinte (NATQ) has an ambitious goal and hopes for a significant financial boost from Belleville council to reach it.
The volunteer group is hoping to have a tiny home community featuring 10 insulated small cabins along with a hub with dining and washroom facilities up and running somewhere in Belleville by the new year, just as the cold winter weather sets in to provide temporary shelter for the homeless.
Monday the organization asked Belleville council for $500,000 to get the community up and running.
Recently council granted the group $25,000 for a feasibility study and volunteer experts from various fields of expertise have been enlisted, a site plan has been created and blueprints are ready for the cabins. A down payment has been made for the construction of the first 10 units. It’s hoped the number of cabins would be expanded by 10 a year to a maximum of 30 once the community is financially stable.
The half million dollars would pay for the cabins, their installation and the dining/washroom facility, staffing, and initial operating costs. Tiny homes volunteer Vino Noronha said it was hoped significant money would be raised through private fundraising but “this will take time, fundraising is hard.” The group had applied to Hastings County asking for $250,000 but were denied.
The group does not have a location yet although in consultation with city staff they have a couple of city-owned property options in mind but did not divulge them.
Councillor Sean Kelly asked whether the group had found it difficult to find a location that was close to the services and amenities that the homeless population would need. The answer to that was yes.
Council took no action on the group’s request.
