Riel Lyon has been living in a tent in Thunder Bay, Ont., for two and a half years. He’s hoping that’s about to change.
Originally from Sioux Lookout, Ont., Lyon has been spending his time volunteering at a drop-in centre in Thunder Bay while trying to find an affordable place to live.
“It would be totally great to have running water, electricity, a place to cook my food, a place to feel safe,” he said, standing outside his tent by the water on the city’s south side. “It would be like my own place of zen.”
His friend has been trying to help him get into an apartment on the other side of town. Lyon also said he maybe on the list to get into the city’s long-awaited temporary shelter village, due to open next month.
“I would be totally interested if they were to offer that to me,” said Lyon.
The shelter village will consist of 80 sleeping cabins as well as common buildings with a kitchen, washrooms and laundry facilities for people experiencing homelessness. It’s being built at the end of Alloy Drive by ModBox Modular.