Full Breakdown
Thunder Bay Launches Temporary Modular Shelter Village
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A new temporary shelter village has opened in Thunder Bay at 879 Alloy Place. The site contains 80 climate-controlled cabins, each with locking doors, a bed, desk, window, laundry and garbage facilities, and selectable single or double occupancy. The first residents are slated to move in later this week, with additional units to be connected to electricity over the next few weeks. Residents may stay for up to four years while working toward permanent housing.
Background & Context
The village is a component of the city’s 10-part Enhanced Encampment Response plan approved in 2024. After several location-related delays and public opposition, the project moved forward, drawing design inspiration from Peterborough’s Modular Bridge Housing Community. Construction was carried out by local firm ModBox Modular, and the city partnered with Confederation College to add community-built features such as planter boxes and picnic tables.
Data & Statistics
- Units: 80 cabins, some accessible, equipped with LifeguardLite panels that alert staff if assistance is needed.
- Funding: The province contributed $2.8 million, reducing the city’s original $5 million capital commitment. The village’s annual operating budget is $1.5 million.
- Staffing: Operated by Demetrakopoulos Enterprises Inc., the site employs 14 staff members (program manager, supervisors, system navigators, community support leads and workers).
- Support Services: 24-hour supervision, on-site peer supervision, laundry assistance, transportation, counseling, case management, ID and income-support help, and a daily breakfast for all residents.
Official Statements & Responses
Rilee Willianen, the city’s supervisor of encampment response, explained that residents must enroll in a support plan and will be referred through the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) and its partners. She emphasized a phased rollout, noting that scaling speed will depend on how the village operates. Anton Demetrakopoulos, executive director of Shelter Village Thunder Bay, highlighted round-the-clock supervision and the provision of daily breakfast. Brendan Cartlin, executive director of Shelter House, expressed optimism that the village will ease winter-time shelter pressures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The units are climate controlled, they have locking doors, they are suitable for double occupancy or single occupancy. We have some accessible units as well, and all of the units can be adapted to suit residents’ needs,” — Rilee Willianen
- “This is a fairly new style of modular bridge housing, so we've been in regular discussion and have definitely taken some lessons learned from them into our village,” — Rilee Willianen
- “We'll be working directly with DSSAB [District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board] and their partners. There are a number of units, transitional units, that are expected to come online in the next few years, and we will be working with them to get people moving from streets to [the] village to homes,” — Rilee Willianen
- “We have 24-hour supervision and support that's delivered through the security officers as well as our community support workers who are 24-7. In addition, we're providing a breakfast daily to all residents,” — Anton Demetrakopoulos, executive director of Shelter Village Thunder Bay
- “I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this initiative goes,” — Brendan Cartlin, executive director of Shelter House