Thunder Bay City Council has selected the Hillyard lands at the end of Alloy Place as the location for a temporary shelter village after months of deliberation and rescinded decisions. The shelter is part of the city’s Enhanced Encampment Response plan aimed at addressing homelessness.
In May 2023, council adopted a human rights-based approach to encampments, setting the stage for the village. By November 2024, the city considered two sites—Miles Street East and Kam River Heritage Park—but both faced significant opposition and logistical challenges. In April 2025, further proposals for sites on Fort William Road and Cumberland Street North were rejected, leading council to revisit the Kam River site, which was later deemed unviable due to safety concerns.
On July 21, 2025, after multiple re-evaluations, the council finally approved the Hillyard site for the village, subject to further assessments. Construction is slated to begin in summer 2025, with 40 units expected to be operational by December 2025 and all 80 units completed by February 2026. The city will establish a neighbourhood liaison committee and hold public sessions to keep the community informed.
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