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Timmins encampment site near a landfill

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A provincially funded transitional housing project in Timmins has stalled after no organizations submitted proposals to operate the facility, leaving the future of the initiative uncertain.

The Cochrane District Services Board (CDSB) received no bids to run the planned housing, outreach, protection and engagement (HOPE) encampment, a more than $3 million project intended to provide modular shelter units for the city’s homeless population. At the June 19 meeting, the board deferred selecting a contractor due to the lack of interest from service providers.

Brian Marks, the CDSB’s chief administrative officer, said staff are recommending a pause in the process while discussions continue with the City of Timmins and the provincial government.

“Administration is recommending that we defer selecting a proponent based on the structural responses to the RFP, and note that there were no responses on the service side, and communicate that to the City of Timmins to help inform the lease negotiations and further discussion with administration,” Marks said.

The project, funded through a one-time grant from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, was expected to provide at least 40 modular units on a city-owned site on Pine Street South. The facility was designed to include private sleeping quarters, shared kitchen and laundry facilities, accessible washrooms, and culturally appropriate amenities, with construction intended to withstand Timmins’ harsh winters.

Despite the lack of service providers, four companies bid on the design and installation of the prefabricated complex. However, two were disqualified for failing to meet proposal requirements.

The proposed site – located six kilometres from downtown Timmins near the Deloro Landfill – has faced criticism for its remote location and lack of infrastructure.

During the June board meeting Marks noted that operational costs, including water, could exceed $20,000 per month.

At the meeting, Timmins Ward 3 Coun. Bill Gvozdanovic questioned whether the CDSB might ultimately reject the funding.

“What we’re saying – not the board, but CDSB administration – is we don’t want to have the money to operate this shelter. Correct?” Gvozdanovic asked.

Marks responded that the board has not yet had that discussion.

“This board could direct the administration to come back and say, ‘Find the cost. How much will it take to operate this?’ And then make a decision,” Marks said.

“But given what we know about the current site location, maybe that point is moot, that maybe there is no service plan that can be delivered on that site.”

Gvozdanovic acknowledged the challenges of launching such projects, suggesting other municipalities may face similar hurdles.

“Trying to put this together is not as easy as we think,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for investment in infrastructure, both in Timmins and in nearby First Nations communities, to support housing initiatives.

“Without transitional housing facilities, we’re going to be struggling with this,” Gvozdanovic said.

CDSB communications manager Kaileigh Russell confirmed that administration will update the City of Timmins on the proposal process and consult with the province on potential next steps, including deferring the funding.

No decisions were made during the public portion of the June 19 meeting, leaving the project in limbo as officials weigh their options.