A Better Tent City celebrates its fifth anniversary

An organization in Kitchener is celebrating its fifth year of helping people get off the streets. CTV’s Heather Senoran learns what’s changed over the years.

A Better Tent City is marking a big milestone in Waterloo Region.

The tiny home community, an alternative for those living on the street, first opened its doors in 2020. It started as a pilot project.

A lot has changed over the years.

A Better Tent City got its start at Lot 42, the former event space, and then temporarily moved to Battler Road.

In 2021, the tiny homes were set up at their current location – Ardelt Avenue.

Approximately 50 people call A Better Tent City home at any one time. They live in 42 cabins on site.

Those who work there say since 2020 about a dozen people who took part in the initiative have found permanent independent housing.

Nadine Green, the cofounder and site coordinator, calls it a safe space for the community’s most vulnerable.

“[They have been through] lots of stuff, lots of trauma,” she told CTV News. “When you’re homeless, people don’t want to look at you. People prejudge you. Here, we don’t judge you. Come, and you’re family.”

Residents are provided with three meals a day and have access to other services.

“We do counseling service, we have a service for addiction issues and we also we have an arts program going on and we have other stuff like jobs. We offer jobs,” Green said.

Laura Waboose has been at A Better Tent City since it started.

“I love it. This is my home,” Waboose said.

Waboose knew Green before A Better Tent City was founded. At the time, Green was a business owner in downtown Kitchener.

“I was homeless and I was staying with Nadine. She would let me stay [and] sleep at nights in her store,” Waboose told CTV News.

Many residents said Green has helped transform their lives.

“Nadine saw me in the bus terminal and she said come with me. She brought me to Lot 42,” said Diana Myers, another resident.

Some residents of a Better Tent City said all their needs are taken care of.

“The food is my favourite part. Shelter. Nadine,” said Darren Chalmers, another resident.

Green said it’s not only her that made the project a success. She thanks their first landlord, the late Roy Doyle, the volunteers, partners and many supporters.

Green said they won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

“I did make a pledge that I live in A Better Tent City however long it takes for all the people to get housing. So however long it takes,” Green said.

The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region has been a charitable partner since its inception. Staff there call it a groundbreaking program.

“Because it is peer-to-peer, it’s person-to-person, it’s community coming together around the marginalized and underserved,” said Aleksandra Petrovic, executive director at Social Development Centre Waterloo Region.

The City of Kitchener extended A Better Tent City’s land use agreement until May 2025.