“The whole objective for us is to transition people off the streets into the MicroShelters and then move into a shelter or into affordable housing,” said Cooper, noting he grew up in the North End not far from the Barton site.

That’s what city officials say they hope in pursuing the plan for the cabins, which, along with 192 temporary indoor shelter beds, is an $18.3-million effort that’s pinned on shoring up affordable and supportive housing in Hamilton.

With the MicroShelters on the way, the city is firming up an agreement with Good Shepherd as a potential lead for the outdoor-shelter project.

In September, council approved the boost in shelter beds along with the outdoor project, which is a roughly $7-million initiative that is to provide “wraparound” services including 24-7 staffing, security, washrooms and showers.

Roughly 300 of 1,600 people who are homeless in Hamilton live outside, including encampments in public spaces under the auspices of a city protocol that lays out spatial restrictions and allows for clusters of up to five tents. READ MORE