While Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) follows the path towards an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing, it is focusing on building community capacity in Peterborough instead of tiny homes.
These efforts include raising awareness of homelessness, mobilizing volunteers, partnering with agencies, and continuing to collect items to ensure those experiencing homelessness have warm blankets and clothing.
In October 2024, PATH submitted its appeal to the OLT to overturn Peterborough city council’s August 2024 decision denying PATH’s application for a temporary use by-law to build 24 sleeping cabins at the organization’s Lansdowne Street East site.
“We’re going through the process of learning how this works and then being guided by an amazing lawyer to help us understand it and make the best decisions as we work through it,” Bev Assinck, co-coordinator of PATH’s Ready for Home Program, told kawarthaNOW.
“That’s kind of an ongoing, early-days process,” she added.
PATH is a grassroots organization dedicated to creating a sleeping cabin community in Peterborough designed to offer stability, dignity, and connection for unsheltered peopel.
“We recognize that homelessness remains a pressing issue in our community,” Assinck said in a media release. “Those who are chronically unhoused or facing unstable housing require immediate assistance.”
In that regard, PATH is helping in a number of ways as its waits for news regarding next steps for the OLT hearing, Assinck said, and so can community members.
PATH continues to successfully operate its Ready for Home Program’s community clothing hub, through which donations are collected, washed, sorted, and distributed to partner agencies, such as the YES Shelter for Youth and Families, One City Peterborough, and the modular bridge housing community funded by the City of Peterborough.
Through a new partnership with the United Way’s Coats for Community initiative, PATH became the collection centre for new durable coats and winter gear, Assinck noted. To date, PATH has collected 1,600 coats with the United Way and distributed hundreds of bags of clothing to partner agencies, she said.
The public can also help by donating items. PATH is particularly in urgent need of men’s large and extra-large coats and large-sized boots.
Meanwhile, those who want to support PATH financially as it navigates the next steps of its OLT hearing journey can do so as well, Assinck said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for donations to support PATH’s appeal to the OLT.
“We are fortunate to have an almost pro bono lawyer,” the fundraiser page states. “However, legal fees in the range of $10,000 will be needed.”
As of the date of this story, $860 has been raised for legal fees.
Since the council decision, PATH has also been working to strengthen its partnerships with One City, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the United Way to provide outreach and essential supplies to those experiencing chronic homelessness and housing instability.
PATH volunteers and staff have helped to implement the resource room at the morning drop-in at One City’s Trinity Community Centre, as well as participating in clean-up initiatives at the centre.
“Our superpower is our ability to rally people around our cause and respond swiftly, and we wanted to use that to the advantage of those experiencing chronic homelessness,” Assinck said.
“We have had the incredible privilege of witnessing in real-time, the impact of agencies and organizations collaborating, pooling resources, and rallying around a shared cause. This is genuine community-building and working together to create more meaningful support systems for some of our most vulnerable community members,” she added. “We’re excited to continue to build on these partnerships and supports in 2025.”
For more information about PATH, including how to donate and volunteer, visit pathptbo.org.
