City turns down offer of “mini-maisons”
Comic Mike Ward has offered the city 25 “minimaisons” for the homeless but has been turned down for the second year in a row. There’s no picture of these items, described as wooden tents, but I’m pretty sure they would tend to encourage the kind of homeless campsites the city has systematically dismantled over the last few years.
Mark 10:19 on 2022-01-23 Permalink
The issue of homelessness is a complex one, yes, but Mike Ward’s idea isn’t a bad one. I think the city is being a bit short-sided in its approach. There seems to be a need to over-regulate everything in Montreal and not let initiatives brew and develop on their own, organically, without the constant implication from municipal officials. The food trucks come to mind.
That being said, I do agree with the City that just plunking mini-houses without additional supports or services is a bit lacking. A project like the 12 neighbors (https://www.12neighbours.com/) project in Fredericton goes one step further by integrating social enterprises, skills development, etc. That being said, that’s much more costly than just plunking mini-houses somewhere.
dhomas 11:17 on 2022-01-23 Permalink
The city also might not want to associate with Mike Ward, given his history. Might make for bad optics.
Kate 13:04 on 2022-01-23 Permalink
dhomas, I think you’re right on this.
CE 22:34 on 2022-01-23 Permalink
Sounds like Mike Ward just wants to get his name in the news. If he was serious about helping the homeless, he’d donate whatever these 25 tents cost to organizations that know better than anyone what the homeless need and want.