Waterloo Region, ON — The Region of Waterloo continues to address housing and homelessness by bringing A Better Tent City (ABTC) into the Region’s Housing Stability System. 

Today, at a Special Council meeting, Regional Council approved a transition plan including an initial site operating budget of $2.9M for the ABTC site itself;  $2.8M for ancillary costs for expanding access and hours of low-barrier drop-in spaces to redirect visitors to the site, and strengthening permanent housing and supportive housing outcomes; and one-time capital funding of $2.5M, subject to the Region’s 2027 Budget process.  

ABTC was created at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic as a grassroots response to unsheltered homelessness. The ABTC Board decided to wind down its operations as a non-profit organization as of July 20, 2026, due to increasing challenges operating the site.  

The Working Centre (TWC) agreed to step in to provide operational support at the site, starting July 20, 2026, pending a period of transition and assessments. Over the last month, ABTC and TWC have been working together on transition planning with the Region providing a full assessment of site needs and conditions. 

The site currently supports approximately 55 residents and 20 to 45 visitors.  

With today’s approval, operational work will begin on-site as well as ongoing due diligence and planning. 

The Region’s Housing Stability System supports people at every stage of their housing journey, from preventing housing loss, to responding to homelessness, to helping secure and maintain permanent housing.   

In 2025, the Region supported 809 people into permanent housing from homelessness, and of those, 390 were people experiencing chronic homelessness. Between 2022 and 2025, there was a 61 per cent increase in the number of individuals the Region supported from chronic homelessness to permanent housing. 

Quotes

“We know that finding stable housing in Waterloo Region remains a significant challenge for many people, and that reality makes this transition into the Region’s Housing Stability system especially important. Our focus is on supporting residents with care and dignity while working alongside community partners to strengthen pathways to housing and build a more coordinated, sustainable system of support.” 

-Karen Redman, Region of Waterloo Chair 

“Our primary focus is the safety and housing stability of current ABTC residents, along with the guests and individuals frequently accessing this site for support. Outreach work has begun, working closely with residents to identify individualized housing plan needs on the path to permanent housing outcomes.”  

-Peter Sweeney, Commissioner Community Services, Region of Waterloo