‘Together we are opening homes and building hope’: The St. Thomas Tiny Hope Project welcomes its first residents

The community’s first residents are moved into their new place, following the grand opening for Project Tiny Hope Homes. CTV London’s Gerry Dewan reports.

Wednesday marked a milestone day for the Tiny Hope Project in St. Thomas, as the community’s first residents officially moved in.

Sixteen people will occupy ten tiny hope units, now ready to be lived in.

Lindsay Rice is Executive Director of the St. Thomas-Elgin YWCA. Rice told those gathered for the event, “Together we are opening homes and building hope. Welcome to this chapter of affordable housing and our community.”

The Tiny Hope Project was shepherded by the YWCA, Sanctuary Homes and Doug Tarry Homes.

The Tarry family has been building in the community for seven decades, but it was clear this project had special significance for the company’s president.

Doug Tarry wiped his eyes as he discussed the project, “My God, tears. You know, it’s been a long journey.”

Tarry says, as a member of the community, it has been difficult to see so many people struggling to make ends meet. “We have to adapt to what’s changing within our society. Folks can’t afford 3000 sq ft anymore, but they still need to be housed.”

The project, which included one, two and three-bedroom units, also challenged the builders to innovate to meet the needs of the families.

Shellie Chown is Vice-President of Construction for Doug Tarry Homes, “As a home builder, what we found challenging was putting all the regular big stuff into a little space. And so, again, (we needed) creative problem solving, a great team of people, lots of volunteers working on this project.”

Rice says the project goes beyond giving people a place to live.

“It’s going to be the supports and services that are tailored to the needs of each family and individual on this property to help them build that foundation; to help them create pathways to economic security, whether it’s through training, employment, life skills development.”

Personalized signs were posted on the doors of the units welcoming the new residents.

There will be a total of 40 Tiny Hope units by the time the project is complete in June of 2026. Fundraising has purchased furnishings for 20 of the units and the effort continues to furnish the rest.