With a measure of pride and regret, the Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective (NSCC) announces its dissolution; and redirection of two cabins and all remaining funds raised to date to local charitable organizations with the history and means to promote temporary and emergency housing solutions to those in our community who remain unsheltered.
NSCC was formed in the summer of 2022 as a special project of Green Wood Coalition by a group of volunteers who proposed sleeping cabins as an urgent and temporary response for people experiencing chronic homelessness in the County.
Sleeping cabin communities have been successfully implemented across North America, and their plan was to pilot one or more such communities in Northumberland.
NSCC made multiple delegations to the Town of Cobourg and the Municipality of Port Hope, working with both planning departments for proposals on multiple municipal properties.
Extensive community engagement sought to address questions from community members and local and County politicians.
Support was manifested by over $40,000 in donations to construct two functioning cabins.
However, all proposals generated vocal opposition from neighbours in the immediate vicinity of all municipal sites that were explored, and neither local Council supported further negotiations and compromise.
“For over two-and-a-half years, NSCC has worked to find alternative accommodation for those in need,” says Alastair McKeating, Chair of NSCC.
“Where we have been able to prevent homelessness, it has typically been with the support of the faith-based communities – especially in Port Hope, and in particular St. John’s Church, Port Hope and Port Hope United Church.” And so, NSCC has decided to transfer the remaining funds to the discretionary funds of those two,churches, with the agreement that the funds will be disbursed to help individuals from Northumberland with emergency shelter needs.
NSCC will also donate the two cabins they built to PATH – Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes be used in PATH’s upcoming sleeping cabin community, as the committee had hoped to do in Northumberland.
The need for emergency shelter and long term affordable housing sadly continues to grow in Northumberland. However, NSCC believes that this resolution is the most impactful way to help those in need, consistent with the intent of their donors. NSCC encourages other community groups to offer their solutions for housing and for all levels of government to come to the table to work together alongside the community so that we can work towards solving this housing crisis
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
